BOOTAN. 
29 
those two who had accompanied me from Rungpore. We had much 
conversation respecting our journey to the capital: great objections 
were started, on account of the thin population of the frontier, and the 
consequent difficulty of carriage, as every thing must be conveyed on 
men’s backs; the steepness of the mountains, and badness of the roads, 
not admitting the use of beasts of burden. The Soobah professed 
himself desirous of affording every supply in his power, but seemed to 
hint, that it would be necessary to procure assistance from the capital, 
for the conveyance of our baggage. 
These impediments vexed me much, and I could not help expressing 
my disappointment at finding that no preparations had been made for 
my journey, after I had already passed so much time at Rungpore 
especially as I had conveyed intimation of my approach to the Daeb, 
and received his answer to my letters, with information that every 
thing should be ready. Much violent altercation then followed be¬ 
tween the Zeenkaubs and the Soobah. I did not exactly know the 
purport of it, but I suspected the latter to be in some measure to 
blame. It ended, however, in a declaration to me, that, as they were 
servants of the Daeb, they were equally servants of the English, and 
would exert all their powers to serve us- It was at length agreed that 
they should send to the adjacent villages, and assemble together all the 
people that could be found. The Soobah assured me, that if he could 
not send all my things with me, he would forward, after my departure, 
and with the utmost dispatch, such as should be left behind. 
About noon on the following day the Soobah came down to our 
tents. I had given him a telescope, and I shewed him how to adjust 
