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

2 90 TIBET.indulging an unreasonable partiality, I thought I might claim for mycountrymen, a decided superiority ;and I ventured to assert that muchof the knowledge of the Chinese had been derived from Europeanmissionaries, one of whom I was assured at this moment held thehighest station amongst the astronomers of China. He promised, assome testimonial of the ancient knowledge of the Chinese, to give meilieir register of past eclipses, which I afterwards received, thoughwithout any satisfactory explanation of itscontents.The burning well of Brahma-koond*, near Chittagong, gave occasionto some observations and inquiries ; I found, by their prejudices, thatthey esteemed it as holy. I have been informed, that a vivid flame isoften seen to play upon the surface of the water in this well, arisingprobably from the spontaneous combustion of mephitic gas.Assam and itsinhabitants became our next subject of conversation;with this region, it should seem, they hold but an extremely limitedintercourse. A large reservoir upon its eastern border, formed, Isuppose, by the Berhampooter, on emerging from the mountains,appears to be held by them in some degree of veneration.Many other topics succeeded in their turn. I was dressed in thewarm embroidered vest which the Regent had provided for me.Theyenjoined me to be extremely cautious in guarding against the approachingcold; and informed me that they had the Regent's command,to contribute by every possible means to my comfort and satisfaction,expressing a hope that they should be happy in frequent opportunitiesof meeting me.'Brahma-koond, fountains of Brahma.