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

240 TIBET.Governor General, and loud in his encomiums on the occasion thatgave birth to their present friendship, which originated entirely in hisgranting peace tothe Booteeas, who were engaged with us in a veryunequal war, in compliance with the intercession of Teshoo Lama.This act he declared to be bote durm, or of the greatest virtue.Soopoon Choomboo also occasionally spoke. Inquiries respectingMr. Hastings, the satisfaction they derived from the receipt of his dispatches,my journey, the difficulties that had impeded it, and theirsolicitude to see me, were topics which occupied a considerable shareof our time in this conference. Much was also said respecting thesad calamity they had suffered by the Lama's having withdrawn himselffrom the world, in consequence of their offences ; nor did theyomit strongly toexpress their sense of the blessing, that he had beenpleased to appear again so early in the flesh.Iwas informed, that the infant Lama still continued to reside in thedwelling, where he was first discovered, in the valley of Painom ; butthat itwas proposed to convey him within a few days to Terpaling, amonastery prepared for his reception, near the summit of a mountainat the distance of two days journey from Teshoo Loomboo; andthat all the court, were to attend his removal. All the time of theprincipal officers of state was nearly occupied in preparations for thisevent, and the Regent gave me to understand, that he had, in consequence,but iiule leisure, and might possibly, not have it in his powerto see me again more than once, before his departure.Near the close ofthe audience, tea was introduced, and served up in the same manner asin Bootan. We had small benches placed before us, and upon them