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

36 BOOTAN.chess, cards, and backgammon.He introduced a paper divided intosquares, and played upon it with one of his people at a game apparentlynot very intricate. He then produced another paper, with anumber of variously coloured circles filled with writing; but the designof this, was not clear. Befoie he left us, I mentioned to him mygreat anxiety to proceed on my journey, and my disappointment atbeing subjected to so much delay; I urged also my apprehensions thatwe should experience much difficulty and inconvenience from the approachingrains.He said a great deal, to justify himself from the suspicionof wilfully detaining us :he said that the Daeb would be highlydispleased with him, if he did not obey my commands, and do everything in his power to accommodate us ; that in the mountains nearBuxadewar there were but few villages, and those utterly unable to furnishthe number of people I required;he added;, that the inhabitants inthe valley on the Bengal side were unable to carry burdens, and travelup such steep ascents : in fine, he preached up patience to me ; tellingme he had written to the Raja on the subject, and expected his answerwithin four or five days.I ascended a very steep hill on Friday the 16th of May, (for thecountry exhibits nothing else) the south side of which was cleared oftrees for cultivation :there was a good deal of black mould upon it, sustainedby the stumps of trees and projecting roots. We saw manyspots of land cleared in the same manner, on the surrounding eminences;which, in general, seemed to produce thriving crops of barleyand wheat, and a small grain of which they make a fermented liquorto drink.In the afternoon we penetrated into the thickest part of the