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BO OTA N. 
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horse, until he alights at the end of his journey, without any pause, or 
intermission in the sound. The faculty of prolonging the sound of a 
wind instrument to any period, is by no means rare among the natives 
of Bootan; nor does the operation appear to be performed with pain. 
I have heard them, and endeavoured to mark any variation of coun¬ 
tenance, for more than five minutes, without having been able to dis¬ 
tinguish the least degree of discomposure. 
It has probably occurred to many who have resided in India, and 
indeed I have myself heard a Brahmen sound his Chaunk/ with little 
variation, but no sensible intermission of sound, for more than a 
quarter of an hour. This is sufficiently explained, to my satisfaction, 
by the power of inhaling by the nose, and exhaling by the mouth 
at the same time ; an operation, with a little practice, almost as 
certain, as though these members were divided by a valve, the 
quantity of wind which the cheeks are capable of holding between 
them, being sufficient to keep up the vibration, that produces sound 
during the act of inspiration. 
We were continually approaching a milder climate, and more 
populous country ; and presently, on turning round the sharp pro¬ 
jection of a hill, we came at once in sight of the castle of Wandipore; 
a most respectable object, towering high upon the narrow extremity 
of a rock, which stands between the Matchieu-Patchieu, and the 
Tahantchieu rivers, both which streams unite at its sharpened point : 
they then form together a river of considerable magnitude, that takes 
t* 
a The shell of a species of buccinum, used as a musical instrument in their religious 
exercises. 
