BOOTAN. 
73 
distant the place to which it is dispatched. Two colours are in use 
for this manufacture, which is of China, white and red: the latter is 
* 
rather confined to the lower orders: the white is respectful in pro¬ 
portion to its purity and fineness: there are various degrees in both. 
I am yet ignorant of the origin of this custom, but shall endeavour, at 
some future time, to obtain an explanation of it. 
A long conversation ensued with the Raja on the dress and customs 
of the English. He admired, and minutely examined, every part of 
our clothes; nor did the pockets least of all excite his wonder and 
surprise, by presenting such a number of comprehensive and concealed 
resources. He gave due credit to the convenience of our dress, its 
lightness, and the liberty it left to the limbs; but I could plainly per¬ 
ceive he judged its structure defective, as differing from his own, in 
shewing too plainly the general outline of the body. Thus it is, that 
the less enlightened Booteea, accustomed to observe the dignity of 
human character exist in factitious concealment, looks for importance 
in exterior ornament: divest his sacred superior of the robe of state, 
and his pontifical insignia, and he would, no doubt, conclude all au¬ 
thority and religion to be entirely at an end. 
The Raja exercised his fancy in endeavouring to trace a resemblance 
between the natives of Rootan and Englishmen; but there was more 
of ingenuity, than truth in the picture. Woollen cloths for raiment, 
meat, spirits, and tea, it is true, are in equal use amongst us; and the 
Booteea, like ourselves, is an utter stranger to the subtle niceties and 
refined distinctions of the Hindoo, which constitute the infinitely 
absurd perplexity that results from Cast; yet nothing can be more 
ff 
