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

272 TIBET.Other Goseins assured nie, though Icould not help doubting thefact, that it is practicable to restore withered limbs, thus circumstanced,to perfect use. This is effected, they say, though not without greatlabour, and some pain, by means of long continued hiction, before alarge fire, with a certain ointment which they compound. To completethe full measure of his religious penance, Iunderstood that there stillremained two other experiments for Pranpooree to perform.In the firstof these, the devotee is suspended by the feet to the branch of a tree,over a fire, which is kept in a continual blaze, and swung backwards andforwards, his hair passing through the flame, for onepahr and a quarter,that is, three hours and three quarters. Having passed through thisfiery trial, he may then prepare himself for the last act of probation,which is to be buried alive, standing upright, in a pit dug for thepurpose ; the fresh earth being thrown in upon him, so that he is completelycovered.In this situation, he must remain, for one pahr and aquarter, or three hours and three quarters, and if atthe expiration ofthat time, on the removal of the earth, he should be found alive, hewill ascend into the highest rank, among the most pure of the Yogee,(Jugi).The mention of Russia, produced some observations from the Regentand Soopoon Choomboo, upon the government of that Empire. Theywere no strangers to the reputation of the reigning Czarina, her extentof dominion, and the commerce carried on with Chhia, to the extremeboundaries of their continent.Many overtures, they told me, had beenmade on the part of Russia, to extend her commerce to the internalparts of Tibet, but their disinclination to enter into any new foreign