BOOTAN. This extensive region is situated between Bengal and Thibet, and principally between the twenty-sixth and twenty-eighth degrees of north latitude, though its limits are far from being exactly defined. It is supposed to be 200 miles from east to west, and 90 from north to south. To the north it is separated from Thibet by the eastern ridges of the Himalaya range, to the south by the province of Bengal, to the east by an unexplored region north of Assam, and to the west by a country subject to the Nepalese.
Bootan is a very mountainous and rugged country. Its mountains form part of the great Himalaya chain, and they abound in the most picturesque and sublime scenery. "The prospects," says Turner, "between abrupt and lofty prominences were inconceivably grand; hills clothed to their very summits with trees, dark and deep glens, and the high tops of mountains lost in the clouds, constituted altogether a scene of extraordinary magnificence and sublimity." In many parts the road, winding round the hills, becomes a narrow ledge, and hangs over depths which no eye can reach; and were not the horror of the scene in some degree softened by the trees and climbing plants which line the precipices, it would be impossible to advance on such a perilous path. The rivers that find a passage between mountains which hide their heads in the clouds are frequently precipitated in tremendous cataracts over frightful precipices, or into dark and unfathomable glens, where their imprisoned waters roar and foam like the surges of a tempestuous sea, until they
issue out into the plains. Turner mentions one stream which issues from the high grounds in a collected body; but descends from so great a height, that before it reaches the thick shade below, it is nearly dissipated, and appears like the steam arising from boiling water. In so mountainous a country, abounding in torrents, bridges are frequent, and a traveller has to pass one or more in every day's journey. They are of various construction, generally of timber, at other times of iron chains, on the same plan as the chain bridges in this country. Bamboos frequently afford the material of their construction. Turner mentions one consisting of two ropes made of twisted creepers, stretched parallel to each other across the river, and encircled with a hoop, on which the traveller sits down, and seizing one rope in each hand, he slides himself along, and crosses an abyss on which it is impossible to look without shuddering. The same traveller crossed another bridge made entirely of fir, without one particle of iron about it. When the width of the river admits, the timber is laid horizontally from rock to rock. Over broader streams, a triple or quadruple row of timbers, one row projecting over the other, and inserted into the rock, sustains two sloping sides, which are united by a horizontal platform of nearly equal length. The centre is in this manner raised very much above the current, and the whole bridge forms the figure of nearly three sides of an octagon. Piers are seldom used, on account of the extreme rapidity of the rivers, and the unequal height of the opposite shores. Turner mentions that the widest river in Bootan has an iron bridge, consisting of a number of chains, which support a matted platform; and two chains are stretched above, parallel with the sides, to allow of a matted border, which is absolutely necessary to the safety of the passenger, who is never quite at his ease till he has landed from this swinging unsteady footing. Only one horse is permitted to go over this bridge at a time. Bridges for foot passengers are frequently formed of two parallel chains, round which creepers are loosely twisted, sinking very much in the middle, where suitable planks are placed, and form a very good footing.
At the foot of the mountains between Bootan and Bengal a plain extends for about thirty miles, covered with the most luxuriant vegetation, but of the most noxious atmosphere, occasioned by the exhalations from the multitude of springs that descend from the mountains, and which are collected and confined by these almost impervious woods. No traveller ever passed through this unhealthy atmosphere with impunity. A British force was sent on an expedition in 1772 against the country of Bootan, when the greater part of the troops perished in crossing this unhealthy tract. The jungles of high grass or of wood by which it is covered abound in tigers, wild buffaloes, elephants, rhinoceroses, and bears.
The climate, from the inequality of the ground, affords every degree of variation from summer heat to the freezing point. At the time the inhabitants of Punakha (the winter residence of the rajah), are afraid of exposing themselves to an almost vertical sun, those of Ghassa experience all the rigour of winter, and are chilled by perpetual snows; and both these places are within sight of each other. On the elevated mountain heights it is cold and moist, and here the clouds are intercepted and descend in rains. The rains, however, in the vicinity of Tassidun, the capital, are moderate. There are frequent showers, but nothing that can be compared to the tropical rains of Bengal. Owing to the great elevation and steepness of the mountains, dreadful tempests of winds arise among the hollows, which are often attended with fatal effects. A considerable village, situated on the brow of a lofty hill, was nearly destroyed by one of these tem-
pests. In one night a hurricane swept nine houses down the steep, with their unfortunate inmates; and though search was afterwards made, not the slightest traces of them were ever found. Three houses still remain, and their tenants, unawed by the dismal fate of their neighbours, still retain their situations. At Wandipore, a town still farther in the interior, a perpetual hurricane prevails; and, as a proof of the violence and steadiness of the wind, the trees have their branches all pointed towards the east, on which side the branches grow with vigour, and are full of luxuriant foliage, while on the other side they are perfectly denuded and bare. This singular effect results from the peculiar conformation of the hills, which throws a constant current of wind with great fury across the corner where the trees have been planted.
The people are industrious, and devote themselves to agriculture. In the vicinity of the cottages, which are interspersed throughout the mountains, the land is cleared for cultivation, and produces thriving crops of barley and wheat, and a small grain from which they make a fermented liquor to drink. It is the practice of the husbandmen to level the ground which they cultivate on the sides of the hills, by cutting it in shelves, and forming beds of such a size as the slope will admit; and these beds being bordered with a low mound of earth, the water may be retained on them or let off at will. In irrigating their fields the farmers of Bootan make use of the hollow trunks of trees, by which they conduct water across the chasms of the mountains. They are generally good husbandmen, and display much industry in the management of their grounds. Their corn fields are neatly dressed; though the credit of this is due more to the women than the men, as by far the greatest share of the labour falls upon them. They plant, they weed, and they reap and thresh out the corn. They are exposed, in a variety of laborious offices, to the inclemency of the weather; while the men, living in idleness, enjoy the fruits of their toils.
Fruits are very abundant, namely, lemons, limes, citrons, oranges, and walnuts, which are exquisite; excellent pomegranates, peaches, and apricots; apples, pears, &c. which are harsh, and of a disagreeable flavour. Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are found growing wild in the woods. Large turnips of an excellent quality are also produced. They are free from fibres, and remarkably sweet. The climate is generally well adapted to the production both of European and Asiatic fruits and vegetables. Potatoes have been introduced; but, either from ignorance or idleness, the inhabitants have failed in the cultivation of this valuable root. The forests abound with a variety of stately trees, and the fir is often found eight or ten feet in circumference. The other trees seen in the woods are the beech, the ash, birch, maple, cypress, yew, and pine. There are no oak trees. Among these mountains, in the vicinity of Murichom, grows the cinnamon tree. Some of the roots and branches were examined by Mr Turner in the course of his journey to Thibet; but the plant being neither in blossom nor bearing fruit, it was impossible to decide whether it was the true cinnamon or an inferior kind of cassia. The leaf, however, corresponded with the description given of the true cinnamon by Linnaeus. In approaching the summits of the highest mountains, the stately trees of the forest disappear, and are succeeded by that hardy and dwarfish species of vegetation which is peculiar to mountainous tracts.
Wild animals are extremely rare in Bootan; and Turner mentions, as an extraordinary circumstance, that he one day saw a multitude of monkeys playing their gambols by the road side. They are of a large and handsome kind, with black faces surrounded by a streak of white hair, and having very long slender limbs. They are held sacred by