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

202 TIBET.We were lodged in the monastery, in an apartment allotted to thedevotions of the Lama. It was a low, square room, with no aperturebut the door, which, when shut, made it gloomy enougli ; andhere we reposed, amidst gods and whirligigs. But, not to speak tooludicrously of that, with which their superstition connects very graveand serious ideas, and which is found equally common in the templesof Tibet and in those of Bootan, it is necessary to explain, that thismachine is no other than a painted barrel, with gilded letters on it,placed upright in a case, which has an opening to admit the hand.Itrevolves upon an axis, having a notch in its side, to allow you to giveit impulse. In twirling this instrument about, and repeating at thesame time the mystic words, Ooin inaunee paimee oom, consists a materialexercise of their religion.Our host, the Lama, was a lusty, venerable, sedate old man ' hetreated us with great hospitality and kindness, and was very solicitousfor our comfortable accommodation.We were indebted to his kitchenfor a very good dish at supper: it was a preparation of mutton,minutely incorporated with milk and spices, of which we eat heartily,and thought it excellent cookery. There were also abundance of dates,and dried apricots, with the infusion oLrice, by way of liquor forthetable.The door of our room not shutting very closely, a keen frostyair found entrance by it, which soon drew from us, wishes for a fire.Our attendants, the Lama's people, flew with eagerness to make one ofdried cowdung and slips of fir, which latter, abounding much withturpentine, burn like a torch, and form, therefore, an excellent foundation; but, the instant the blaze subsided, it was succeeded by so