An Embassy to the Court of the Teshoo Lama in Tibet - Prajna Quest

BOOTAN. 109•though all seemed conscious of its danger. In the course of the day,intelligence arrived, of the defeat of a part of the Raja's troops, aboutsix miles south of Tassisudon, the enemy having gained possession ofVVangoka, after an obstinate contest, in which some lives were lost.The same'guards still kept their stations on Friday the 27th of June,and others were placed lower down the valley, to prevent the enemy'sadvance; yet with the same success that attended the beginning oftheir career, the insurgents that morning became masters of threevillages, witiiin two miles of the palace walls, and no material shew ofresistance appeared ready to interrupt their progress ; for as yet, itwould seem, the strength of government was not collected, and its force,weakened by detachments, was inadequate toextend beyond the defenceof its immediate seat.Consistently with this plan, every possibleexertion was made :strong pi-ckets were advanced in front, and to theright and left occupied the roads across the mountains ; double vigilanceguarded the gates of Tassisudon, which were shut against theadmission of all strangers, except such as had been previously andstri-ctly examined ;and no Gylong was^ upon any pretence, permittedto go out.Affairs now seemed to wear a serious aspect, and it was time, wethought, for us to look a little to our defence : accordingly we beganto rub up our arms, and muster our stock of ammunition, as a measurepreparatory to a siege: not doubting that, if the design of the insurgentswas to bring their assault home to the Raja's door, our chateau,as standing in a very important point of view, would have attractedtheir earliest regard. But whether the rebels were desirous to avoid