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

;116 BOOT AN.they exhibited a resolution, which, doubtless, received strength fromthe slackness of the enemy's fire, and the subsequent discovery ol' theirwant of ammunition : for at last the rebels were obliged to resort, astheir only means of annoyance, to pelting their adversaries with stonesbut these, not being hurled from an eminence, had little elfect. It wascurious to observe the mixture of defiance and of fear,displayed in theconduct of these combatants.A Booteea, in the moment of his highestexultation, forgets not his personal safety, but ismost careful to guardagainst the danger of missile weapons : he is one instant jumping andtwirling himself about, brandishing his sword and shield with an airof defiance, and with a wild and savage shout apparently challengingattack : the next moment, if a gun be pointed, or a bow raisedto be discharged, he shrinks into concealment. Nor is the intrepidityof their assaults more exemplary : a party sallying, pursues no longerthan the party that advanced, retreats ; when it halts, they stand, andthen retire again. With frequent fluctuations, sometimes one, sometimesthe other side, gaining a momentary advantage, the contest wascarried on till about five o'clock, Avhen the loyalists forced the rebelsfrom the centre village, and those on the east and west were pushedvery close by the two divisions, that had moved to the attack of each.Soon afterwards a parley took place, in which the rebels seemed to bemaking terms. The conference lasted more than twenty minutes ;when the victorious party came down from the centre village, andhastened the decision. The Eastern village was instantly evacuated ;and the insurgents being permitted to withdraw, went off in a confusedcrowd towards the south. Nearly at the same time the western