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

6SBOOTAN.then ranged themselves behind us, on the same side of the room bywhich they entered ; the three officers stood in front of the balcony,between us and the Raja, and the interpreters by them.When the commotion of setthng in our respective places had ceased,and silence ensued, the Raja addressed me with many earnest and-'particular enquiries respecting the Governor General; he congratulated'us on our safe arrival at Tassisudon, and expressed his apprehensionsfor the fatigue and inconvenience, we might have endured in travellingthrough a country, abounding with somany natural difficulties,,and so scantily furnished with the necessaries of life.I was happy in the opportunity thus afforded me, of paying everyacknowledgment due to the civilities and attention, we had experi*enced in the course of our progress ; I expressed my thanks also forthe ample supplies of provision provided for us, by the inhabitants andhis officers, at every stage, as well as for the diligence and good care oithe guide, who had conducted us from the frontier of his dominions.The Raja was not wanting in attention tothe superior members ofour government, but asked respectively after the health of the gentlemenof the Supreme Council, and the Chief Justice; and in endeavouringto convey to me an adequate idea of the strength of his regard'and friendship for the Governor, he used various modes of expression,-which he concluded with the action of advancing his arms, and bendingtheforefingers of each hand, linking them one in the other, and puUingthem at right angles, with a strong exertion, as if to give force to hissentiments.The letter I delivered, being written in the Persian Ian-"^ guage, could not be then read ; for there were none among his servants,.