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

114 B OOT AN.them.While we were engaged in viewing this miserable artillery, ona sudden the bells of the palace rang violently, and out rushed a multitudeof armed men, equipped for battle;they hurried on, with a wildand savage cry, brandishing their arms with an air of boldand insolentdefiance ; but the rest of their conduct bore a very differentaspect, and the expedition ended rather in a dastardly manner. Therebels came to meet them, and an action commenced with a prettybrisk fire, of which we waited to see the beginning, tillthe shot rangedpast the place where the cannon were, struck the walls, and, as wewalked along the other face of the palace, went far beyond it.From our quarters we could see both parlies endeavouring to keepthemselves as much as possible undercover, availing themselves of aljirregularities in the ground, and now and then making a random shot,though with littleeffect, whenever they knew there was a collection ofpeople, in consequence of the ends of their bows and matchlocks beingvisible. This sort of conflict lasted lor more than tAvo hours : theassailants were kept constantly at bay, and at length thought proper todraw off.It is evident that the want of vigour in the Raja's troops was highlycalculated to raise the ardour of the insurgents, who all seemedanimated in their leader's cause, and steady to liis standard; yet,whatever might be the views or motives of this revolt, the rebelshadnot yet employed their power to its utmost extent, having hithertomade no effort beyond their own intrenchments, except indeed to repelthe assaults of their opponents. Had their forces rusiied on with thesame rapidity with which they at first sprang forth, it would have been