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

BOOTAN. 129the name Chaantchieu, and shapes its course between the frontiermountains, flowing finally along the flat surface of the district of Bijnecinto the Berhampooter. A bridge over the Matchieu-Patchieu, conductedus to the hill, on which the fortress of Wandipore stands. Imust return to this remarkable structure, to give a particular descriptionof it.After we had ascended the hill, extremely wearied with eleven hoursof toilsome travel, we were conducted to a house near the castle, whichwe had scarcely entered, when a large pot of tea, accompanied withroasted rice, and many polite inquiries, were brought us from theDaeb. Plenty of poultry, eggs, and vegetables, soon followed ; butbeing destitute of cooking utensils, and without thechance of seeingthis night, any of thosethings which we had dispatched from Tassisudonin the morning, our prospect was extremely dismal, and theprofusion rather added to our embarassment, than alleviated ourdistress.At length, reduced by hunger to the last extremity, we contrived,by thediligence and dexterity of our friends, the Booteeas, torender two fowls subservient toour appetites, and produced a meal,that would have diverted any spectator, whilst therelish with whichwe enjoyed it,might have excited the envy of an epicure.Having so successfully surmounted one material difficulty, it hadbeen well, if night had not exposed us to other and more serious evils.We were lodged in a spacious house, of a painted, flattering exterior:but its interior, ill agreed with its outward promise. A short timebefore, it had been successively occupied by the rabble of the rebelparty, and by the loyal forces, avIio had left behind them, all the evil