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

BO O TA N. 71we now deemed it necessary to submit to some constraint; and havingat last, with a tolerable grace, swallowed the tea, we yet foundourselves very deficient in the conclusion of the ceremony.The Rajawith surprising dexterity turned the cup, as he held it fast betwixthis fingers, and in an instant passed his tongue over every part of itso that itwas sufficiently cleansed to be wrapped in a piece of scarletsjlk, which bore evident marks of having been not very recently devotedto this service. The officers, who had entered with us, were notpermitted to partake of this repast, and, but for the honour of it, wewould willingly have declined so flattering a distinction.several times during our visit,They spokedelivering themselves deliberately in aready flow of language, by no means inharmonious, with confidence,but at the same time with profound respect.The Raja descantedon the very limited produce of his mountains,and magnified greatly the scarcity of provisions, yet begged me tocommand every thing that the country could supply. Trays of fruitwere placed before us, consisting of oranges, dried apples, walnuts,vegetables, and some preserved fruits of China and Cashmeer. Hedelivered to the Zempi, or master of the ceremonies, a silk scarf foreach of us, which being thrown across our slioulders, he dismissed us,with many admonitions to be careful of our health, and wishes that itmight suffer no injury from the change of climate.We then took leave, and returned to our quarters, with no unfavourableimpression of the Raja, from his manner and reception of us.His figure was much concealed, from the attitudein which he continuedsitting all the lime, cross-legged, and enveloped in a quantity of