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

252 TIBET.by the inhabitants of Tibet and Bootan to every great personage whotravels through their neighbourhood ;and when their sovereign passesby, the custom is of course observed with extraordinary zeal and attention.Many persons on both sides the road prostrated themselves uponthe ground, as the Regent with his retinue advanced; and when hedrew near to Teshoo Loomboo, banners were hoisted upon the palacewalls, and the nowbuts, trumpets, gongs**, and cymbals, conspired toannounce his entry in their loudest tones.The Chinese commander, with his detachment of troops, took thisroute in preference to that by Jhansu-jeung, on his return to Lassa.The ground marked out for their encampment was upon the edge ofthe plain, just without the limits of the monastery, under the fortressof Shigalzee-jeung, and close upon the banks of the Painom-tchieu.Here the troops halted two days, after which they struck their tents,and marched away.I sought an early opportunity to congratulate the Regent upon hisreturn, and the safe conveyance of the Lama to Terpaling.This gaveoccasion to some reflections from the Regent, fullof reverence and affectionfor the late Lama, and tending to establish the identity of thei*"AA sort of kettle drum.large circular metallic instrument formed by the hammer, from oneand a halfto two feet in diameter, with the edge turned up about two inches deep all round.Whenused, it is suspended by a cord passing through holes made for the purpose near the circumference.In order to excite an equable vibration, it is at first softly struck by the performerupon the external ring, with a ball encased in leather at the end of a long rod ;the blows are afterwards repeated with stronger force, and it is then capable of producinga surprising sound.