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

;TIBET. 281After much inquiry, and long investigation, 1 could never learn thateither theirtradition, or written records, mention any ancient peopleeminent for their knowledge, inhabiting towards the iiortli. The generalbelief, as I was repeatedly assured by the Regent and SoopoonChoomboo, which prevails amongst them, is, that both the sciencesand the arts had their origin in the holy city of Benares, which theyhave been taught to esteem, as the source and centre both of learningand religion. Hither they refer, as to a common origin, all the knowledgeof other nations, as well as the first dawn of light, that beamedupon their own spiritual and civil institutions.The ancient teachers of the faith which they profess, are said to havefirst proceeded from this sacred city, and, after having advanced towardsthe cast, over the empire of China, to have directed their coursetowards the kingdoms of Europe. Their own instruction, in scienceand religion, they refer to a period, long prior to the appearance of thefirst o-leam of knowledge, which enlightened the European worldthough they are just enough to acknowledge their own marvellous deficiency,and confess, that, iu these times, the natives of Asia are farsurpassed by the inhabitants of Europe.But they attribute the unequalprogress which different nations have made in the cultivation of thearts, to the difference of cHmatc, and tothe various degrees of application,which local deprivations and defects may have required, too-uard against the particular evils resulting from them. As for themselves,they retained so much of the arts as was necessary, or useful,in their peculiar situation and circumstances.Perfection in philosophy, or mechanics, in an inland region, remote