BO OTA N. 
81 
giving me to understand, that whoever assumed his robe (meaning the 
religious dress), is bound to abstain from every sort of inebriating 
liquor. However, considering that one who had absolution in his 
hands, might venture at an experiment, which a common subject dared 
not presume to make, in case a strong impulse of curiosity should 
occur, I left the means to gratify it—claret and raspberry jam. I cannot 
say what became of them; but a few days after, I had an application 
for a fresh supply of the former, with no intention, I believe, that it 
should be reserved among the relics. We talked much of entertain¬ 
ments, and 1 attempted the description of an English one. 
The Boora Soobah, now Toonso Pilo c , who some years ago, soon 
after the conclusion of the war with Bootan, was deputed by the Daeb 
Raja to the Governor General, the first of his nation who had ever 
been in Calcutta, had been present at one of Mrs. Hastings’s concerts, 
and, on his return, had given a very lively account of it, accompanied 
of course with such observations, as resulted from the strong impres¬ 
sion, which a scene so novel r must naturally leave on a Booteea's mind. 
What my interpreter repeated, might serve to revive the recollection ; 
for the Raja listened with attention, looked pleased, and wished himself 
a spectator in a concert, or a ball room. But to return to our dinner.. 
He was exceedingly astonished at the variety of eatables and liquors 
that composed an English meal; and could by no means conceive, in 
his own mind, the advantage of such an heterogeneous mixture: he 
e That is the Governor of Toonso ; Pilo is the general title of provincial governor of 
the highest order, and Toonso the name of the capital of the province. Soobah is the 
title given to governors of inferior rank. 
