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

180 BOOTAN.observe that they made use of iron, or any other metal, about theiredifices. They are good joiners : their wooden divisions are insertedbetween grooves, and their doors turn on pivots.This light kind of summer-house stood on higher ground, at only ashort distance from the castle, and at the end of a very long grassplot,where the Booteeas were accustomed tomeet every afternoon topractise their martial exercises. They shot with the bow and arrow,at two marks set up in the ground, at the distance of two hundredyards from each other: each archer was furnished with one arrow;and they traversed to and fro, shooting alternately from one mark tothe other. There appeared to exist a great degree of emulation amongthem, and an impartial attention to merit ; for I observed, that if theleast important, or youngest, of the party, sent his arrow near themark, 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 of a Booteea,the act of drawing the bow exhibits, in my opinion, one of the mostgraceful attitudes of muscular exertion :the fencing school has not onethat displays an athletic figure to greater advantage.Paro boasts the only market in Bootan ; and it appears to be muchfrequented. It is also famous for the manufacture of gods, and forgingof arms, particularly of swords and daggers, and the barbs of arrows.The mechanics flocked about us on our departure, on Thursdaythe 1 1th of September; and it was impossible to go, without leavingamong them some encouragement for the arts.Not far from our house we saw half a dozen stout women thrashing