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

242 TIBET.symmetry in his features, and a sweetness of expression in liis countenance,which was highly prepossessing.His language was plain andunaffected, neither inflated with the exuberancy of Asiatic diction, noryet deficient in urbanity ; it was delivered with that mild unassumingmanner, which strongly characterises Tibetians of good education.His action was void of gesticulation ; it consisted in a slight movementof the body forwards, and a bending of the neck, assisted by thevariations of an expressive and enlightened countenance ; his armswere almost constantly folded beneath his mantle.His voice appeared to be injured by the loss of his teeth, which occasioned,I tliought, ratiier an indistinct articulation, or perhaps thiseffect might in some degree be produced by a defect in the roof of themouth. My interpreter, however, had no difficulty in understandinghim, as he spoke slowly, and commanded a ready choice of words ;hisdress was that of the religious order, which seems to be the regularhabit of every attendant on the court.Tiiis simply consists of a vestof woollen cloth, without sleeves^ of a deep garnet colour, and a largemantle, either of the same, or of a thinner texture, somewhat resemblinga shawl. A sort of philibeg, and huge boots of Bulgar hide,lined either with (ur or cloth, and designed as well to promote warmthin travelling, as for substantial use within doors, complete the dress.But though it surprised me at first, to see my friends trudging aboutthe house, in their massy boots, yet I soon became sensible of theirutility, as a defence against the chill arising in this cold climate, fromtheir marble floors.The great scarcity of timber in Tibet, not admitingthem to board the floors of tlieir rooms, hence possibly arise