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

44 BOOTAN.Teh'uilchieu Palchieu.— JS'oomnoo. — Poes. — JVarigoka. — Symloka.— Bridge over the Tehintchieu. — Valley of Tassisudon.It was seven o'clock when we left Buxadewar; our way led acrosstiie Peachukom mountain, and it was nine before we reached itssummit, by a steep and rocky road, some parts of which consistedentirely of stairs of stone.We found here a small hut, which seemedintended as a resting place for travellers, and we availed ourselvesof the convenience, to look back on tiie difficulties we hadpassed, in the hope of enjoying an uninterrupted prospect of the lowcountry of Bengal. Tlie sun shone, and the atmosphere was clear,but from the excessive height of the mountain we could see only ashort distance beyond the woods, that extended from its base, for morethan ten miles upon the low lands.The woods are intersected by thechannels of many streams, which in the season of the rains, becomeconsiderable rivers, and greatly contribute to the magnitude of theBerhampooter.Every object beyond the wood appeared indistinct, and the horizonwas lost in haze.In a few minutes our prospect was entirely changedclouds came gliding towards us,and every object was enveloped in athick mist. The air became veiy chill ; a thermometer, carried in thepocket, at the foot of the mountain stood at 80°, on the top at 74°,but in the shade it fell in ten minutes to 65°.While resting on this elevated station, we were cautioned by theBooteeas to preserve the profoundest silence, and to beware of the dangerof disturbing theelements, by any sound louder than a whisper^