observe that they made use of iron, or any other metal, about their
edifices. They are good joiners : their wooden divisions are inserted
between grooves, and their doors turn on pivots*
This light kind of summer-house stood on higher ground,, at only a
short distance from the castle, and at the end of a very long grass-
plot, where the Booteeas were accustomed to meet every afternoon to
practise their martial exercises. They shot with the bow and arrow,
at two marks set up in the ground, at the distance of two hundred
yards from each other:, each archer was furnished with one arrow;
and they traversed to and fro, shooting alternately from one mark to
the other. There appeared to exist a great degree of emulation among
them, and an impartial attention to merit; for I observed, that if the
least important, or youngest, of the party, sent his arrow near the
mark, he was instantly applauded with a loud shout of triumph.
It was impossible to behold their sport without admiration; for,
besides the striking peculiarities in the person and dress ofaBooteea,
the act of drawing the bow exhibits, in my opinion, one of the most
graceful attitudes of muscular exertion: the fencing school has not one
that displays an athletic figure to greater advantage.
Paro boasts the only market in Bootan; and it appears to be much
frequented, It is also famous for the manufacture of gods, and forging
of arms, particularly of swords and daggers, and the barbs of arrows.
The mechanics flocked about us on our departure, on Thursday
the 11th of September; and it was impossible to go, without leaving
among them some encouragement for the arts.
Not far from our house we saw half a dozen stout women thrashing
corn, and their skill well deserved our attention. They confronted
each other, three in a row; fed the cbm was StfèwM between thbtif
and they thumped it, wielding their flails (two stout staves, joined
together by a flexible thong) with subfr dexterity, that' though perhaps
not a blade escaped unstruck, yet they never once entangled, nor
clashed lii the Operation, if
We were kept by many impediments at Pare till near nbofl; when;
quitting our quarters, we descended the stone slope, alt® raMmgf to'
thé right, crossed the bridge below the palace, and proceeded up the.
faf from the banks of the Falcüea, We passed tlniougff
the market-placè, as the peasants were beginning to-assemble'; nbne^P
them left their pursuits to follow us; and the boys that were
about looked at us only for a moment, with an appearance of surprise,
but without any sort of rustic rudeness. Two Booteeas would have
passed through few English towns', so peaceably.
The Zeenkaub, whom the fiaeb had appointed W attend me to
Tflj&fiaVited us to deviate a little from fee high fbad, and we a lf fofe
lowed him till we came to some carpets laid upon the ground, beneath
a bower, formed with branches of the willow tree, where we were
entreated to alight. Benches were immediately placed before us, and
almost as instantaneously covered with a variety of fruits, parched
rice, &c. and we were plentifully supplied with buttered tea and
whisky. Our guide Was himself active, in waiting upon us, and con* .
Sidered our acceptance of his invitation to halt, as a peculiar coiiipift
ment. A village in the vicinity was, I learnt, the place of his? birth,
as well as the present residence of his family. Some of them came,