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

78 BOOTAN.Before we leftthe Zempi, a messenger from the Daeb invited us tohis presence.The Zeenkaubs, who accompanied me from Rungporehad, I found, fallen under the Raja's displeasure. They intercededwith me to mediate their peace ;and, accordingly, I made a point, onthis next visit, of carrying them with me.After the usual ceremoniesof introduction, and the common compliments, had passed upon ourmeeting, I prefaced the business of their mission, by bringing theZeenkaubs, his servants, to the Raja's notice ;and, apprehensive thatthey had forfeited his favour by some inadvertent error, begged leaveto recommend them to his forgiveness ; highly commending, at thesametime, their zeal and fidelity in his service.The Raja replied, thatthey had indeed been guilty of a crime of the highest nature, in havingreturned without receiving his order, or even asking his permission;he added, that it was an immutable law among his subjects, that a.person charged by him with the execution of any duty, couldnever,while he had life and breath, recede from the prosecution of what hehadundertaken, or return to his presence, without having completelyaccomplished the object of his mission, unless by special authority.A striking instance of this implicit deference to the commands of theirsuperior, occurred upon my return to Bengal.The Raja had deputedtwo of his Zeenkaubs, to accompany me to Calcutta, charged withnoparticular business, but chiefly out of comphment to me, andto bring him the earliest account of my safe arrival. On coming to-Rungpore, I learnt that the Governor General was preparing for ajourney to the upper provinces of Hindostan. I soon afterwards receivedhis commands to cross the country, and join him upon the road.