BOOTAN. 
121 
the most probable was, that the party (disheartened by the check they 
had met with) were divided, and many of them dispersed. The Zoom- 
poon, with those adherents who were steady to his cause, had retreated 
to the castle of Wandipore, which he commanded; it lies about twenty- 
four miles off, in an eastern direction, and is esteemed, according to 
the nature of fortifications in Bootan, a place of great strength. It is 
situated on the end of a rock between two rivers, which wash both 
sides of it, and unite in one stream, at its point. 
This is one of the consecrated palaces of Bootan, and a certain 
number ofGylongs are constantly stationed in it, for the performance 
of worship in the temple; it has also an establishment of Zeenkaubs, 
Poes, kc. who act in a civil as well as military capacity, though they 
properly belong to the latter order. The numbers of the enemy that 
composed the garrison, were not well known; but detachments were con¬ 
tinually marching, during the whole day, to hem them in, and prevent 
their reassembling in the field. Zoondonier, who is the treasurer and 
generalissimo, together with the Zoompoon of Punukka, were appointed 
to conduct the siege of Wandipore: a blockade was understood to be 
the plan proposed; this castle being considered as not reducible by 
any other means, than those of intercepting its supplies of water and 
provisions. 
The Raja assembled, as I was informed, all the Gylongs in the 
temple, on Tuesday the first of July, to offer his thanksgiving for the late 
victory, to implore an early termination to these unhappy tumults, and 
the ultimate success of that party, whose chief was best disposed to the 
performance of the duties of their faith, and the service of the state. 
