.17 8 
BOOTAN. 
of mud. There is but one entrance into the castle, which is on the 
eastern front, over a wooden bridge, so constructed as to be with great 
facility removed, leaving a deep and wide space between the gateway 
and the rock. 
Opposite to this front are seen, upon the side of the mountain, three 
stone buildings, designed as outposts, placed in a triangular position. 
The centre one is most distant from the palace, and about a double 
bowshot from those on either side, as you look up to them. The centre 
building, and that on the left, defend the road from Tassisudon, w hich 
runs between them; that on the right, the road from Buxadewar, and 
the passage across the bridge. On the side next the river, from the 
foundation of the castle, the rock is perpendicular, and the river run¬ 
ning at its base, renders it inaccessible. The bridge over the Patchieu, 
which is at no great distance, is covered in the same manner as those 
of Tassisudon and Punukka, and has twm spacious gateways. 
The valley of Paro exceeds that of Tassisudon, by almost a mile in 
width; it lies nearly north-west and south-east, and the river inter¬ 
sects it irregularly, as it pursues its winding course. 
We were obliged to halt a day at Paro, and make a new r arrange 
ment of our baggage: it had hitherto been conveyed by the labour of 
the people of the country alone; horses were now called in to bear 
their share in its carriage. The aid we took from hence, both animal 
and human, was designed to conduct us beyond the boundary of 
Bootan to Phari, the Tibet frontier- 
We had not been long in our quarters at this place, when w r e were 
visited by a Mookhy, or agent, whose business it is to conduct that 
