and took a very affectionate leave of him. Human nature is very much
the same, and but little modified in the expressionits fond propensities,
amongst the rudest or the most polished nations on the globe.
I Valued them for'their affection, and him for his attachment to his
native home. Indeed I felt myself the force of the same sentiment.
« Where’er I go, whatever realms to see, -
“ My heart, untravelled, fondly turns to thee;
“ Still to my Albion turns'with ceaseless pain, ■.
“ And drags at each remove a length’ning chain,’’
After a short delay, we mounted our horses, and advanced-through
the valley, which contained many villages, and was very Completely cultivated.
The sides of the mountains to the right and left, were covered
with thick groves of pines: they contained also numerous clusters of
houses, and some handsome villas, with gardens and orchards. The
road was good, and the ascent so easy, as to be scarcely perceptible. 1
Many of the Tangun horses, peculiar to Bootan, and, I was told, the
greatest part of those that constitute the caravan annually sent to
Rungpore, are bred in this valley. The number, of mares, running at
liberty with their foals-, were rather troublesome to our party, as .they
never emasculate the horses in this country, and by nature they are
excessively-spirited.
About four ©'dock we came to the end of our day’s journey, a short
stage of-about' nine miles, and entered Dukka-jeung, a fortress built
upon the crown of a low rocky hill, which it entirely occupies, conforming;
itselfto.the shape of the summit, tlje slops-al^round beginning
horn the foundation of its waljj. The approach tofÜietonjv euti once-,
is, defended by three round towers, placed,,between thecastL and die
foot of the hill, and connected, together- by aj doublë..waIj- y }SO,that j%iS(a|e
communicationrbetween them is preseiVed,-e^|^in^iin^.o^tlie greatest
peril. Around each,of these,^oyvexs, near t{ae^top, a 1 >toad, I e/jgojtpr<v-
je,Gtsj;the„edges1 of which fortified by a: mud wall,l;with,|,l00p, holes
adaptedjto the use of the bow andcanow, orokimislcctss,* On the,notth
of the castle are two round towers dial command tht read from 1 ibe(£
“On-the east side the rock isirough anAs-tpo]) :> and^cdg^wundei life
'walls on.±he(west, is a large bason of water, the.only «reservoir; I ha,d"
yet: Seen in Bootan.-ri
Tiro castle.of Dukka-jeung. is. a very.subst jnlial^foi’iejbudthn^ w (Hi
high walls; but so irregular in its figure, that it is evident, no. «flier
design was followed in its- constmction^.th^|iL’tp‘!- ebyerJ^Bthe level
spaceupon the top of the hill on. w'hich it stands. Having ascended to
the gateway at the foot of the walls, we had still to mount about a dozen
steps through a narrow passage, after which)ave landed uponlj® semicircular
platform, edged with a strong, wall, pierced with loop holes.
Turning to the right, we passed through a second' gateway, and urent
along a wide lane, with stables for horses on each .side. The third
gateway conducted us to the interior of the fortress, being a large
square, the angles of which had three suites of roonjs. In the centre
of the square, was a temple, dedicated to Mahamoonie and his concomitantidol
S-^j k j
During the night, a light sprinkling of sno^y had -fallen below in