BOOTAN. 
7 1 
we now deemed it necessary to submit to some constraint; and having 
at last, with a tolerable grace, swallowed the tea, we yet found 
ourselves Very deficient in the conclusion of the ceremony. The Raja 
with surprising dexterity turned the cup, as he held it fast betwixt 
his fingers, and in an instant passed his tongue over every part of it; 
so that it was sufficiently cleansed to be wrapped in a piece of scarlet 
silk, which bore evident marks of having been not very recently de- 
& 
voted to this service. The officers, who had entered with us, were not 
permitted to partake of this repast, and, but for the honour of it, we 
would willingly have declined so flattering a distinction. They spoke 
several times during our visit, delivering themselves deliberately in a 
ready flow of language, by no means inharmonious, with confidence, 
but at the same time with profound respect. 
The Raja descanted on the very limited produce of his mountains, 
and magnified greatly the scarcity of provisions, yet begged me to 
command every thing that the country could supply. Trays of fruit 
were placed before us, consisting of oranges, dried apples, walnuts, 
vegetables, and some preserved fruits of China and Cashmeer. He 
delivered to the Zempi, or master of the ceremonies, a silk scarf for 
each of us, which being thrown across our shoulders, he dismissed us, 
with many admonitions to be careful of our health, and wishes that it 
, might suffer no injury from the change of climate. 
We then took leave, and returned to our quarters, with no unfa¬ 
vourable impression of the Raja, from his manner and reception of us. 
His figure was much concealed, from the attitude in which he conti¬ 
nued sitting all the time, cross-legged, and enveloped in a quantity of 
