BOOTAN. 
49 
of Sheenshilla to drink tea, and partake of the fruits which the inhabi¬ 
tants had brought out, and placed on benches by the road side, ready 
for our repast. 
Near the bottom of this hill, water constantly drips from the over¬ 
hanging rock; and in a deep recess at the foot of the mountain, a cas¬ 
cade, rushing from a thick wood, formed a large stream of water, over 
which was placed a bridge constructed of trees, wdiose ends rested on 
either side of the rock, with split pieces of timber laid across them. 
We sat down here awhile to rest; and the deep shade, the melody of 
the birds, and the murmuring of the waters, which imparted at the 
same time a grateful coolness to the air, inspired us with fresh spirits 
and vigour. All this indeed was necessary to enable us to climb up 
the Murichom mountain, where the road was extremely toilsome, and 
the ascent very steep. We attained the summit about noon, much 
wearied with the journey; a considerable portion of which, we had 
been compelled to perform on foot. These mountains are covered with 
very large and tall trees, similar to those which compose the forests of 
Bengal, with little underwood. Numbers of people were employed 
in bringing water from the springs below, for the use of the inhabi¬ 
tants of Murichom. The vessel made use of lor the purpose, was a 
hollow bamboo, as large as could be conveniently grasped with both 
hands. This was filled, and carried like a dub, resting against the 
shoulder: some took one on each; and laborious as it seemed to be, 
I could not but observe that girls and women were chiefly employed 
in this service. 
I was obliged to halt on Saturday the 54th of May, from the want 
