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

BOOTAN. 151were dislodged from before Tassisudon, and had fledto Wandipore.Upon this intelhgence, he hahed at Kepta.His men soon after werecountermanded;to the capital.and, upon the Raja's return, he was himself orderedIt was this morning only he had arrived, and he paidhis hrst visit to the Raja while we were present. He went throughthe performance of the same humiliations, or mode of obeisance, aswas exacted from every subject ; and having prostrated himself ninetimes before the Raja, he then presented him with a white silk scarf,and was directed to sit down upon the floor, on the opposite sideof the room. When he had paid his respects, and been some timeseated, I took the opportunity of the first pause to address myself tohim; and we entered into conversation, at which the Raja seemed notat all displeased ; nor did I omit to express my sense of the Soobah'smost obliging treatment of us, while we were at Buxadewar. AsJong as he continued at Tassisudon, we had frequent visits from theSoobah, and we were pleased with his society; for he was a liberalminded man, void of prejudice, modest and unassuming in hismanner, and of a more conciliating exterior, than the generality of hiscountrymen.The most remarkable among those, who occasionally came to visitus, was a little old man, who wore red robes, the dress of the religiousorder; some called him the Raja's story-teller, others a jester: \\he assumed the part of a buffoon ; and seemed altogether dependantupon the success of his tricks, for his daily dinner.We were early distinguishedby his attention; and he never passed us within hearing,but he iiailcd us in bad Bengalee; and whoever may follow us while