80 
BOOTAN. 
equally at your command, and did right in obeying you.” They were 
now called into the presence, and made before the Raja, nine prostra¬ 
tions, which is the obeisance paid to him by his subjects, whenever 
they are permitted to approach; and I had the satisfaction to witness 
their being re-admitted into favour. 
I omit the repetition of all that passed, relative to the business 
of my commission: an inexhaustible succession of obstacles were 
urged to oppose the prosecution of it, to obviate which occupied 
almost all my time, and constituted the principal subject of every con¬ 
ference. To attempt the recital here, would be entering into a tire¬ 
some detail, widely deviating from my present design, which is, an 
endeavour to delineate the appearance of a region, little known, 
and to mark so much of the manners of the people, as, from an im¬ 
mediate intercourse with them, attracted my observation. 
The Raja had invited us to dine in his apartment, which we were 
assured, was the highest mark of distinction and goodwill, he could 
possibly confer; since no person in his own dominions, even of the 
most distinguished rank, ever aspired to the honour of eating in his 
presence: but we were strangers, from a distant country, and his 
guests. By particular desire, the table was spread with our own camp 
equipage, and the dinner was dressed by my servants, much more to our 
satisfaction, than if furnished from the Raja’s kitchen; for we had as 
yet seen nothing to attach us to Bootan cookery. As soon as the Raja’s 
frugal fare was brought, a plate of roots and boiled rice, we began the 
meal. He eat with ivory chopsticks, and sometimes used a spoon. I 
invited him to taste our wine and sweetmeats, which he declined; 
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