466 Mr. stewart’s Account of 
which I am now to fpeak. It is true, fome ftraggling 
miffionaries of the begging orders had, at different times, 
penetrated into different parts of the country ; but their 
obfervations, directed by ignorance and fuperftition, 
placed in a narrow fphere, could give no ideas but what 
were falfe and imperfecSt. Since them, the Jefuits have 
given the world, in duhalde’s Hiftory of China, a fhort 
account of this country, collected, with their ufual pains 
and judgement, from Tartar relations, which, as far as it 
goes, feems to be pretty juft. 
This country commonly paffes in Bengal under the 
name of Boutan. It lies to the northward of Hindoftan, 
and is all along feparated from it by a range of high and 
fteep mountains, properly a continuation of the great 
Caucafus, which ftretches from the ancient Media and the 
fhores of the Cafpian fea, round the north-eaft frontiers 
of Perfia, to Candahar and Caflamire, and thence, con- 
tinuing its courfe more eafterly, forms the great northern 
barrier to the various provinces of the Mogol empire, 
and ends, as we have reafon to believe, in Affam or Ghina. 
This ftupendous Tartar bulwark had ever been held im- 
palpable by the Mogols, and all other Muflulman con- 
querors of India : and although in the vallies lying be- 
tween the lower mountains, which run out perpendicular 
to the main ridge, there refide various Indian people, 
1 whom 
