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

284 TIBET.Thecomniocliousness of bedsteads, in elevating bed furniture from theground, is totally unknown amongst them ; it being their general customto spread, by way of bed upon the floor, a thick mattress, consistingof two cushions, the upper surface of both being joined by acloth covering, which, when they rise, admits their being folded uponeach other ; by day, it serves them for a seat. Travellers usually carrythis accommodation with them ; it is thrown down upon the groundwhen they wish to rest; and it may literally be said to be their custom,when they mean to travel, to take up their bed and walk. A varietyof mechanical, mathematical, and optical instruments, which I hadwith me, attracted the attention of my visitors, by their novelty, ortheir use.It was matter of great astonishment to them to view, through a goodreflecting telescope, remote objects, not visible to the naked eye, andto distinguish even their figure, size, and colour.While a part of mycompany was engaged in inspecting the new and uncommon objectswhich had attractedtheir notice, the young Lama of Luddauk, with agood-natured and arch air, seized me by the hand, and, turning up thepalm, attentively surveyed the lines described on it. I submitted tohis examination, with no very serious apprehension from his profoundknowledge of the occult science of palmistry ; and he had too muchurbanity to tellme any, but the best of fortunes.My camp table, and the preparations made for dinner, had a due shareof their notice ;nor could this excite wonder, since the European mannerof serving meals, differs so essentially from their own. It is altogetherunusual among them, as far as I can learn, for numbers to assemble