BOUTEA SOLDIERS. 
221 
CHAPTER XXL 
Though many modern travellers have visited dif- 
ferent parts of that mountainous region which sepa- 
rates Hindostan from Thibet and Tartary, still little 
appears to be known of Boutan beyond what was 
communicated by Captain Turner nearly forty years 
ago. His volume, published in 1800, furnishes a 
tolerably accurate account of the country and its in- 
habitants ; though as his stay was short, his narra- 
tive is necessarily superficial and meagre. 
The military character of the Bouteas is far in- 
ferior to that of mountaineers generally. Their 
troops are ill disciplined, and appear to want both 
confidence in themselves and in their leaders. Even 
in the hottest attack they are never regardless of 
their personal safety, but take shelter behind any- 
thing that happens to be near when danger threatens 
them. They are especially cautious in protecting 
themselves against missile weapons, arrows above all, 
lest these should be poisoned — for of this they have 
an extreme dread. When wounded with arrows, they 
generally consider their case hopeless, and express 
great terror at the apprehension of being thus cut 
off. Their hostile appearance is sufficiently formi- 
dable to awe their immediate neighbours ; but a very 
small European force might readily, and with little 
u 3 
