opposite to himv'bh a rising' ground. The ceremony .began with
the chanting of the5 priests; *fhe-tabors, trumpets,--.and cymbals^ll
sounding: this was continued with short intermissions,,-and;:but- little
variation,'for ten minutes, when the-instruments ceased; and'some'
pfayers were repeated in a deep and hollow tone: a short silent after,-?
wards ensued'. The Soobah tied a white cloth before his.-faee; covfeit?
ing his mouth "and nostrils, and a vessel of Water was. brought torhini,'
iff which-he washed his hands. A white pelong handkerchief feas then
presented, one end of which we hekfeas we approached the-altar; a
priest holding the other: we released it, and-it waswavedjbVer the
smoke ofthe lighted tods; Thdprayers continued; -some-riceWas-Sfeat'-'
tered about by the priests, and the pelong handkerchief was'them* farst?
en&i;on a^taffi- The Soobah had now oomewrer to -the'srdelcfhwhrdB
we stood: some cowiry shellsd intermixed with snfcd|^wererK'bug.ht;
the.flags were allfixed, and the consecrated ricerand fruits, that stood
upon the altar, were thrown down, and eagerly gathered up' by-tK<Jj
poorer spectators. The-Soobah had a quantity of thfe^ri'cE ''and* shelfe;
some of which was given to us ; and we, following his example,.every
now and then scattered it about, while the performers were chanting
and sounding their instruments. When the whole was distributed, the
priest stopped and drank tea: a plate of Jack' fruit was brought to
the Soobah, which he touched and tasted; we did the same, and then
the whole was divided among the priests and performers: the girls
Porcellana, U r in a l, found among the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, and
current in Hindostan and Bengal as money.
8 Jack frxiitpArtocarpusintegrifolia. Linn. Kuttul, In i.
Bo 0T AN- 35
now advanced, dfneing, and l b ® - i ? a s ended with loud ac-
clamations.
We turned and descended the hill ofl feot ^as the declivity was too
steep for us to ride); ,4k; t<ho midst of- loud shrieks and sheets. We
found, on our retting a large mat spread before the Soobah s house,
with a bench placed in thg middle of it; and we went arid stood upon
the mat, while the priests chanted someprayers. A paper; containing
and ’riq®) -Was put into the Sopbptfs hand, some of wbteh he gave
me, and we scattered them about: the cowries were quickly collected
by the girls. A large vessel of liquor was before us:' a ladle foil of it
Was brought, to the-Soobah: he touched it i-did the same; and it was
afterwards distributed among the people. We theft adorned to the
Soobah’s apartment, drank tea and liquors, and, were presented with
fruits and provisions.
The Soobah told me, drat this religious ceremony had been performed
because we were, just arrived in.-Bootan; | and it was proper tp
invoke their deity to-grant us protection, and a prosperous- journey
through their country, thatv-yfe^i^t- retu-ria? ’ift1 safety to our own.
This was a duty, he said, which they Pwedft0if^-Englfeh€on^)£Hiy,
and the Daeb would- be pleased to* know that it had been performed.
They were happy! he added, that we. had joined in this act of- devotion;
and it was his wish that pn -our return we might, revisit this
abode, and again perform -together the same ceremonies. We then
took leave, and retired to our- tents.
In the evening of the ensuing-day the Soobaboame to visit us, and
I amused him by explaining the different games at which we played;
F