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

TIBET. 273connections, and the watchful jealousy of the Chinese, had hithertodefeated every attempt of this nature.Some years ago the Empress of Russia, I learnt, had invitedTaranaut Lama to acorrespondence, and ambassadors had been sentto him with considerable presents. Among these, I saw a Bible withplates, in the Russian language, which they still preserved.Taranaut,who at thattime esteemed Teslioo Lama, as the guardian of the state,and oracle of the Lama hierarchy, forwarded the presents, and theletter to him, for the purpose of receiving his advice upon so importanta subject.The Lama gave little encouragement to the Russians,yet consented to a limited intercourse ; in consequence of which, theRussian traders have since resorted occasionally to Kharka, the placeof Taranaut Lama's residence, where they still carry on by their agentsa considerable traffic. This principally consists in the sale ofbulgarhides, which are prepared in the adjacent districts, and brought alsofrom Calmuc Tartary to the same mart, where all the rich and valuablefurs, that pass in merchandize between the Russians and Chinese, maybe procured upon easy terms.Immediately after this conference, a large party of Tartars fromKhumbak, (a tribe of Calmucs) arrived on a pilgrimage to TeshooLama, and engaged the Regent's attention for several days. Theybrought with them a string of horses, consisting of between two andthree hundred, furs, bulgar hides, and skins of butter, as offerings tothe Lama, before whom, itis unusual for his votaries to appear, especiallywhen they come from any considerabledistance, without presentingsomething by way of religious tribute.