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

B OOTAN. I 91by an horizontal platform, of nearly equal length :thus the centre is,of course, raised very much above the current, and the whole bridgeforms the figure nearly of three sides of an octagon ''.Piers are almosttotally excluded, on account of the unequal heights, and extremerapidity of the rivers.The widest river in Bootan has an iron bridge'',consisting of a number of iron chains, whicli support a matted platform; *and two chains are stretched above, parallel with the sides, to allowof a matted border, which isabsolutely necessary to the safety of thepassenger, who is not quite at his ease, till he has landed from thisswinging unsteady footing. Horses are permitted to go over thisbridge, one at a time.There isanother bridge, of a more simple construction, for foot passengers,formed with two parallel chains ^ round which creepers areloosely twisted, sinking very much in the middle, where suitable planksare placed, the end of one plank resting upon the end of the other, withoutbeing confined, which forms a very good footing. There is alsoanother mode, by which the people of this country contrive to crossdeep chasms. Two ropes s, commonly of rattan, or some stout andflexible osier, are stretched from one mountain to another, and encircledby a hoop of the same.The passenger places himself between them,sitting in the hoop, and, seizing a rope in each hand, slides himselfalong with facility and speed, over an abyss tremendous to behold.Examples of all these kinds of bridges have occurred in the course ofour journey, as Ihave already related.* Wandipore, p. 132.' Chuka, p. 55.'Selo, p. 59.•^Mountains near Chuka, p. 54.