famous for having been the'place of his last regeneration-, and the scene'
of -hisTearly,studies. A small palace, on a similar plan to&jl the,.other
•consecrated habitations in Bootan, has been erected on: this memorable
spot- it supports a gilded Ganopy on its, centre/ - and a forestVof flag-
staves, with inscribed banners, surround it on alt sides : there is also
a considerable settlement in its vicinity.
On the summit of this mountain, which is named Pomaditewefeuild
ani ext^iye hipimtery:,,consisting of many separate buildings : the
most commodious of the cluster was occupied -by a senior Gylong,
who, as presidentj iSiStiled Lama/ the rest were inhabited fey the infer
rior monks. The religious of this description are,numerous in Bootan.
Their sole occupation lies in performing the duties of their faith. 'They/
are exempt from labour ; enjoined sobriety, and: temperance ; and
interdicted all intercourse with the other sex. Though many become
voluntary members of this establishment, yet its numbers depend most
upon the Gush»»* which obliges every family that consists of toore than
four boys, tOiContributp one of them to the order : and. the famé rale,
under particular circumstances, extends sometimes to all the males of
a village. At the age of ten, they are received into the association,
and commence their tutelage. Their first years are passed in learning
the rudiments of their profession, and in performing a variety of servile
offices to their instructors; in which drudgery, unless elevated by
superior talents, they continue beyond the age of twenty. However,
though cut off from the enjoyment of some of the most exquisite pleasures
of life, there are yet many advantages annexed to this class.
They are certain of f liberal education ; and, as their minds are more
‘cultivated than -bést prospect
df being seiectcdytn'publ^uilmd^lS«^*!!! fU.G& theJgTeateVp.irt
of all'who are*-‘em})'ló>ul''mfiVrch sithationV,/.uC horn among
them. Yét'Whether peculiarity^e^nipilctiblei to -early
tuition,* ihabilftyj'tüdifëgust*, B/carÉLot-dètermine-. tffjs^Gi yfrequontlydup-
pén^fihat thos%‘ rafe havef]^rfg4enjoyed posts of hohoür/ ö^émolument,
ty^ipie sudden resolution oFretiiing fori (f^ci^lr'oirfc ihedj'ifsifn.'SfrtcUid
thotares ol hit; aitoi Wink/iind&r thetsanGtJiotMfiinreligiWfts ihiipuls^'i
thefnSpfcd devotee In^ë^Vomê'Solit-ai^'fMonypétèalJs.tli'e^sü'mhlit
of a mountain,1 Wiferé 'hé builds- himself’ a=cotiaigef..g.nd having- depo-”
sited a hord of grain in it, shuts himself up/, determined' never again
to return into the’ world, or hold any intercourse with mankind. 11.
Thus secluded from society,- if, in consequence of an erroneous ca-1-
culhtidif, ïffé^sefes! his-stook of food about to fail, while life-maintains
tts'posfrfrii full vigour, and is by no means, inclined to quit’fits hbld,
thé^ole rejilmép^öPt'iie’retired devotee, fqr future support, must, then
rest on the adventitious visits of such, as hold converse with the buried
living. The benevolence which-thus ministers to his. necessitaes'^has’also
its appropriate merit; so that the reduce-may yet exists fa^mbgtfchs
or years, upon the bounty that places-his daily, food at his door,-without
the least knowledge of the hand that feedshim; till at length'the.feebl’e
principle that animates the human frame, and preserves it from dissolution,
ceases to perform its functions, and the individual is no*mo,re,
It is true, he might long have ceased to-be of any earthly importance,
whatever spiritual esteem is attached to the devotee,, the hermit,-or
the misanthrope, term him which you will: yet this singular, bent
Z