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

34 BOOTAN.opposite to him, on a rising ground. The ceremony began withthe chanting of the priests; the tabors, trumpets, and cymbals, allsounding:this was continued with short intermissions, and but littlevariation, for ten minutes, when the instruments ceased, and someprayers were repeated in a deep and hollow tone :a short silence afterwardsensued.The Soobah tied a white cloth before his face, coveringhis mouth and nostrils, and a vessel of water was brought to him,in which he washed his hands.A white pelong handkerchief was thenpresented, one end of which we held as we approached the altar, apriest holding the other : we released it, and it was waved over thesmoke of the lighted rods. The prayers continued ; some rice was scatteredabout by the priests, and the pelong handkerchief was then fastenedon a staff.The Soobah had now come over to the side on whichwe stood: some cowry shells^ intermixed with rice were brought;the flags were all fixed,and the consecrated rice and fruits, that stoodupon the altar, were thrown down, and eagerly gathered up by thepoorer spectators.The Soobah had a quantity of the rice and shells,some of which was given to us ;and we, following his example, everynow and then scattered itabout, while the performers were chantingand sounding their instruments.When the whole was distributed, thepriest stopped and drank tea: a plate of Jack' fruit was brought tothe Soobah, which he touched and tasted ;we did the same, and thenthe whole was divided among the priests and performers: the girls,;' Porcellana, Ltntiai, found among the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, and'(current in Hindostan and Bengal as money.Jack fruit, Artocarpus integrifolia. Linn. Kuttul, /w^.