VI 
INTRODUCTION. 
at this time, a strong jealousy of all intercourse with the inhabitants 
of Hindostan, prevails universally amongst the natives, on its northern 
frontier. From Bootan, indeed, a caravan now annually visits the 
district of Rungpore, in Bengal, bringing with it oranges, walnuts, 
and the coarse woollen manufactures of that country, with the horses 
that carry them,for sale; and it returns, after a month’s stay, with the 
cotton cloths, salt, and other articles, of the produce of Bengal. 
But the same privilege has never been allowed by the government of 
Bootan to the inhabitants of Bengal. Perhaps a people more enter- 
prizingthan the latter, might have contrived to overcome this difficulty, 
since some individuals of the religious orders occasionally find their 
way both into Bootan and Tibet. One of these, named Poorungheer, 
accompanied the first deputation from Tibet to Bengal, in the year 17 73, 
and afterwards attended the Lama on his visit to Pekin. Something, 
therefore, co-operating with the political cause above assigned, to pro¬ 
duce the same effect, may have arisen from the difference of manners, 
and of atmosphere., of the two countries. It is not possible to conceive a 
greater dissimilarity between the most remote inhabitants of the globe, 
than that which distinguishes the feeble bodied and meek spirited na- 
tives of Bengal, and their active and Herculean neighbours, the moun¬ 
taineers of Bootan. Their religion, which might be supposed to have a 
powerful influence on their manners, has totally failed of producing 
similar effects on the two nations, though it is evidently drawn from 
the same source. The province of Bootan is, from its elevation, so cold, 
DSI 
