54 
BOOTAN. 
opposite to him, on a rising ground. The ceremony began with 
the chanting of the priests; the tabors, trumpets, and cymbals, all 
sounding: this was continued with short intermissions, and but little 
variation, for ten minutes, when the instruments ceased, and some 
prayers were repeated in a deep and hollow tone : a short silence after¬ 
wards ensued. The Soobah tied a white cloth before his face, cover¬ 
ing his mouth and nostrils, and a vessel of water was brought to him, 
in which he washed his hands. A white pelong handkerchief was then 
presented, one end of which we held as we approached the altar, a 
priest holding the other: we released it, and it was waved over the 
smoke of the lighted rods. The prayers continued; some rice was scat¬ 
tered about by the priests, and the pelong handkerchief was then fast¬ 
ened on a staff. The Soobah had now come over to the side on which 
we stood: some cowry shells d intermixed with rice were brought; 
the flags were all fixed, and the consecrated rice and fruits, that stood 
upon the altar, were thrown down, and eagerly gathered up by the 
poorer spectators. The Soobah had a quantity of the rice and shells, 
some of which was given to us ; and we, following his example, every 
now and then scattered it about, while the performers were chanting 
and sounding their instruments. When the whole was distributed, the 
priest stopped and drank tea: a plate of Jack 6 fruit was brought to 
the Soobah, which he touched and tasted ; we did the same, and then 
the whole was divided among the priests and performers: the girls 
4 Porcellana, Linnai, found among the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, and 
current in Hindostan and Bengal as money. 
e Jack fruit, Artocarpus integrifolia. Linn. Kuttul, Ind. 
