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 ofthe 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, which
runs between them; that on the right, the road from Buxadewar,.and
the passage across the bridge. On the sidè next the river, from the
foundation ofthe castle, the rock is perpendicular, and the river running
at its base, renders it inaccessible. The bridge oyer the Patclueu,
which is at no great distance, ismoyered in the same manner as.^jqgf
of Tassisudon and Punukka, and has two 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 intersects
it irregularly, as it pursues its winding course.
We were obliged to halt a day at Paro, and make a new arrangement
of our baggage: it hadjiitherto 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 bounctery of
Bootan to Phari, the Tibet frontier.
We.had not been long in our quarters at this place, when we were
visited by a Mookhy, or agent, whose business it is to conduct that
n 9
division*of the hafai^^hi^gOe^fro»li^W®Mjfe;ua!My‘to Rungpore.
HetbfOught ns a present* 'OMrUits; arid!soine^6' ' t l f e w h i c h - h i ' s
own domestic stock supplied; talked niuHf Of his ■ journey to Itifngpoi^j"
and strongly expressed-His gratitude lonthcifkihd'tied.'tTiiem and cfrlGou-
ragemen't-’-he had always experienced from Mr. Goodladb and Mr. PUrey-}
as welhas' the other genflekfieff residiB^bhere; aftd^he pressed'me in
return«, to-employ him-in any service- heJido1<rld'.e}lelul;ei^ «'f’'-! j«
It pleased me exceedingly to meet-among UiyrneW'acquaintances;
with’so strongF-anfiinstance bfsa'grateful disposition; and it- induced?
me, when he was taking 'leave, to add somelhing'mbr^NfO'.the' gratuity
'I made-iib a-point >always to give toifl^sefSiWho'hrGilght-• ike’ artidfes dr
p f i^ s ^ ^ but he* declined4indcepting my -prbseEtf'i)||a^|marmemhat
convinced me of frisi sincerity, and again repeated his oiler, to lender
me 'any-' “se'rv ice - to «MsJip&wer-- 1
' Paro Pito’s-'absenceIexcused us-the« troubtomf’makingwisitsHa-nd’
thedglr >the‘ officers-of his'h'ousehold rathfet&’&jt-pected us to wait upi/fi
them, we did not think their impoi tanc e'rc'quir'ed suchTc'coinpI'iniGptfHSj^
Curiosity, moie poweilul -than the influehic ol-‘fatigue; tempted-Us
the first evening, to take« a walk. Wewent.Sbmbw'aty dbwn*tHe- rittS~;
and though the distance was short, We had a most labtirious* rtnuin,
up sa’ioiig' steep slope; pnvfed with smooth stones; bHiMihm light shower
had rendered extremely slippery. Ill this excursion, we saw fitifobfriore’
than was Visible-from our oWn kpaftment-s, which‘Were-in a vferyl neat
small- hdU'se, built, of fir. The foofs, wainscots, ahd partitions
that divided the rooms,-were all of the same materials. I did not
4‘ Collector W till rlvemie.
A a