BOOTAN. 
7 5 
ever accidentally stamps, upon the perishable materials of' the human 
form. 
The Raja produced many unbroken seals, carefully cut from let¬ 
ters, and observed how much he prized every thing he had received 
from the Governor’s hand. I cannot pretend to follow him through 
the variety of expression, by which he strove to testify the strength 
and sincerity of his friendship; but it all tended to convince me, 
that he knew at least very well, what belonged to gratitude and affec¬ 
tion. He asked me many questions about a view of the palace of 
Punukka, his winter residence, which he had sent to Mr. Hastings: 
I had seen it in Calcutta, and assured him that it was received. He 
expressed his wishes for a picture of the Governor’s habitation; and 
a question arose, if either of us could draw. My interpreter (with that 
false policy which is inseparable from a suspicious mind), eagerly grasp¬ 
ing at an evasion, began to answer, that an Englishman was master of 
every art and science; astronomy, geography, mathematics, mechanics. 
I stopped him; for no vanity could allow such indiscriminate and 
preposterous praise; and I told the Raja in plainer terms, that drawing 
constituted in England a branch of education; and that as we made 
unequal progress in the art, I could boast but little skill in it, but that 
my friend Mr. Davis had attained a great degree of perfection. Mr. 
Davis happened to have with him, a view of Calcutta, which he had 
taken from Fort William, comprehending the line of buildings that 
skirt the esplanade, and the shipping on the river: it had sustained 
some damage from the carriage; but he promised, as soon as it could be 
repaired, to present it to the Raja. The employment of an interpreter 
L 
