476 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, village named Oofoomee, through which Mr. Collie passed, preceded 
by his guide, who warned the female part of the inhabitants of his ap- 
May, proach in order that they might get out of his way. His guide was de- 
lighted when he directed his steps toward the ship, as he was very tired, 
and even had a horse brought to him before he got to the beach. This 
animal was eleven hands and a half in height, and would hardly have kept 
a moderately tall person’s feet off the ground ; but his guide, though 
there was not much necessity for bracing his feet up very high, 
obviated the possibility of this inconvenience by riding with his knees 
up to his breast. The stirrups were massy, and made of iron curiously 
inlaid with brass, and shaped something like a clumsy Chinese shoe. 
At Abbey Point he visited some sepulchres hewn out of the rock or 
formed of natural caverns ; one of these happened to be partly open, 
and he discerned four large red earthen jars, one of which was fortunately 
broken, and exhibited its contents, consisting of bones of the human 
skeleton. 
In another excursion made by this gentleman to the north-east of 
Potscong, he visited a temple of Budh, situated in a romantic copse of 
trees. The approach to it was along a path paved with coral slabs 
partly overgrown with grass, and under an archway in the formation of 
which art had been called in to the aid of nature. After resting a short 
time in this romantic situation he descended the paved way, winding 
among tall trees, among which was a species of erethrina of large growth, 
and arrived at the house of a priest, who invited him to smoke and par- 
take of tea and rice. Three young boys were in the house, who, as well 
as the priest, had their heads shaved according to the custom of the 
priesthood in China. 
By the 25 th May, we had completed the survey of the port, re- 
plenished our water, received a little fresh stock, and obtained some 
interesting astronomical and magnetical observations; the day of de- 
parture was consequently near at hand. This event, after which many 
anxious inquiries were made by the natives, was, I believe, generally 
contemplated with pleasure on both sides ; not that we felt careless 
about parting with our friends, but we could not enjoy their society 
without so many restrictions, and we were daily exposed to the tempta- 
