52 
BOOTAN. 
announced the Soobah’s return. Fie came surrounded with a nume¬ 
rous crowd, clad in various coloured habits, and we walked together to 
the bottom of the stone slope, opposite to his house, where we mounted 
/ 
our horses. When the party was arranged in regular order, the caval¬ 
cade was by no means contemptible. In front were carried, on bamboo 
poles, live white flags; two staves immediately followed, on which 
were fastened shreds of silk of various colours, blue, red, yellow, and 
white, in alternate rows from the top to a foot and a half downward: 
the bearers kept constantly twirling these in their hands. Seven young 
girls with loose hair went next, chanting, in a sort of religious tone, as 
we advanced: they were led with a slow and solemn pace by the Lama, 
or chief priest, in a deep crowned cap of clotted wool, and a scarlet 
vest, riding on a Tangun horse. Two Zeenkaubs followed, and imme¬ 
diately after came the Soobah, dressed in a vest of blue satin, with 
gold embroidery, and a garnet-coloured shawl, one end of which pass¬ 
ing under his right arm, was thrown negligently with the other over the 
left shoulder. The crown of his hat was shaped after the European 
fashion, and the brims were three or four inches broad. The top of the 
hat was decorated with a crest of yellow metal, which in shape bore 
some resemblance to a leaf. After him rode two priests, with caps 
similar to those of the Lama : I followed next, with Mr. Saunders, and 
a number of attendants: Mr. Davis was lame, and could not go. 
The road was very steep and narrow, and our horses were frequently 
obliged to halt to recover their wind, as well as to relax the tone of their 
muscles; for it was with the greatest exertion that they scrambled up. 
When we gained the summit, the gills, who had preceded us, were 
drawn up in a row, and sung to us after their manner, as we passed them, 
