54 
LIVES OF THE MOGHUL EMPERORS. 
not be made available for cultivation. This is also the 
reason why they are obliged to stall their cattle in 
their houses. They cannot afford to employ for grazing 
the scanty strips of land which the mountains supply. 
They are not, however, much incommoded by their 
dumb families ; habit has rendered this mode of living 
perfectly endurable. The houses have neither chim- 
neys nor windows. These alone are wanting, toge- 
ther with lime and plaster, to render their habitations 
not only convenient, but extremely comfortable. The 
want of a staircase is not much felt, for the steps of 
their ladders are broad, though the ascent is steep. 
However great their desire to erect stairs, the thing 
seems scarcely practicable, as the expense of the 
labour would be prodigious, their carpenters having 
none but the very worst tools; yet it is surpris- 
ing how neatly they execute their work with the 
clumsy implements employed. “ Their timbers and 
planks are hewn, the use of the saw being altoge- 
ther unknown. The beams are put together with 
mortises and tenons, and the boards by a piece let 
in across and dovetailed. Not a nail or bit of iron 
is to be seen in their buildings, nor even a wooden 
pin ; yet their work is not deficient in firmness or 
stability.” * 
The engraving here represents the dwelling-house 
of the chief of a small village in Boutan, and will give 
some idea of their attention to architectural effect as 
well as to comfort. The houses in general are not 
much inferior to this. Its situation is highly ro- 
* Davis’s manuscript Account of Boutan. 
