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

TIBET. 267At all times, when I met the Regent, Soopoon Choomboo was incompany. The distinguished attention shewn to him, and the parthe generally took in conversation, plainly bespoke his consequence. Ithought him intelligent, quick of apprehension, and, as well as theRegent, extremely communicative. I was not a little surprised to discover,by their conversation, how accurate an idea they had acquiredof the position of ditferent countries, though maps and charts are totallyunknown among them. Of China (or Geanna) their own travels hadtaught them the situation ; and they pointed out to mc, not only therelative bearings of the countries surrounding them, as China on theeast; Siberia on the north ; Turkestan, Cashmcer, Almora,on the west;Nipal;, Bootan, Assam, to the south, and Bengal beyond these ;but alsoof England, and of Russia, with almost equal truth.Yet, desirous toextend their knowledge, a great variety of questions were proposed tome, relating to the peculiar produce, temperature of climate, and differentdistances, of remote countries.Bengal, of which they had from various authorities collected a tolerablydistinct idea, they expressed a most eager curiosity to visit.Nor can,perhaps, the inhabitants of a rocky, arid, bleak, and naked region,fancy a scene more enchanting, than isexhibited in a country of wideextent, presenting throughout a smooth and equal surface, clothed. witheternal verdure, intersected by numberless deep and copious rivers,abounding with groves of large and shady trees, and yielding an immensevariety of fruits and flowers, through every season of the year.But Bengal is rendered peculiarly dear to them, by the powerfulM m