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

TIBET. 219where it rages, it is hardly less fatal, for they neither know, nor useany remedies to obviate its effects ; but as soon as the first appearanceof it,is publickly knoi^vn in any village, the healthy hasten to desert it,and leave the infected abandoned to chance, and to the natural courseof the distemper. At the same time, every avenue to the place is equallybarred against the admission of strangers, and the flight of those whoare confined. Under such circumstances, it is no wonder that instancesof recovery are rare.The late Teshoo Lama, when the small-pox hadbroken out among the Gylongs, once moved his court altogether toChamnamning;and the capital, Teshoo Loomboo, remained for threeyears without inhabitants, until it was supposed to be completelypurged'of the pestilential infection.The Lama himself had never hadthe disorder, and it Vr'as the cause of his death, at the early period offorty-six years of age, while on a visit to the Emperor, at the courtof ChiKa.We crossed the river at a small village belonging to the governmentof Teshoo Loomboo, and dismounted upon the opposite bank, topartake of some warm tea, prepared by. the principal person in thisneighbourhood, who was waiting by the road side, expecting ourapproach.After a short halt, we pursued our journey, and came to Gangamaar,situated upon an eminence.Here a complete relay of horses, and cattlefor our baggage, was ready lor our accommodation.During the arrangement of this exchange, we joined our friendsatGangamaar, and partook with them, of a very hearty meal, whichafforded both them and ourselves, an ample occasion to wonder atFfthe