28 
BOOTAN. 
aromatic woods; and on another vessel were burning, three long tapers, 
of some perfumed composition, about the size of a reed. The room 
was decorated with pictures of their deities; and in a recess, in the 
further part of the room, were placed some idols, with lamps of oil 
burning before them, the bone of a human skull lying immediately in 
front, and flowers, fruit, and grain, scattered between. Our visit being 
merely ceremonious, it will be uninteresting to repeat what passed, 
as it consisted of little more than compliments and enquiries concern¬ 
ing the health of our respective masters. Our stay was short; we 
walked away without ceremony, and descended by a ladder to the 
ground. This habitation is erected on props, like that at Chichacotta : 
it exhibited no greater efforts of art, though something more of labour 
had been bestowed upon it. The lower part was enclosed on all sides, 
and served as a magazine for merchandize and lumber. I am at a foss 
to account for the use, or convenience, of this method of building in 
so hilly a country. In a low and marshy soil, the advantages of artff 
ficial elevation are obvious; but where there is little danger from 
noxious reptiles, or sudden torrents, I can suggest no reasonable mo¬ 
tive for such a singularity. 
I received notice on Tuesday the 13th of May, that the Soobah in¬ 
tended me a visit in the evening, to settle the plan for forwarding our 
journey, and transporting our baggage; but I was told, that he thought 
it necessary to wait for answers to the letters written to the Daeb Raja, 
notifying our arrival at Buxadewar, before we could be permitted to 
proceed. He came after dinner, with his attendants, to my tent. The 
Zeenkaub sent by the Daeb Raja to escort us, was with him, as well as 
