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

TIBET. . 313led by a Lama, having a wand in one hand, and in the other a casketor brazier of incense, suspended by three metallic chains from the endof a long staff, which emitted a thick smoke as the procession movedalong.A powerful band of their most noisy instruments immediately followed.First were ten performers with huge trumpets, which theysounded, resting one end upon the ground ;next followed twenty menwith large tabors, a sort of drum about three feet in diameter, fixed bythe side upon a pedestal, and beaten by a long elastic curved iron:then came twenty men with cymbals, and two with the sea shell (buccinunij,here termed chaunkHaving entered the most spacious and open street, they began toarrange themselves in order. The trumpets took their station uponthe right ; next them the chaunks, and then the tabors ; the cymbalswere in front. The Lama stood before the whole band, appearing,with his wand, to mark the time, and give them words, which all,exceptthe instrumental performers, chanted to the music. I observed,that the performance of this ceremony, continued for near half an hour,when they formed their line again,and bent their course, passing bythe dwelling of Tessaling Lama, a superior of the religious order^towards the extreme limits of the monastery upon the north east.Here stood a lofty and broad, but shallow edifice, styled Kugopea,filled, as I was informed, with portraits of the sovereign Lamas, andwith other sacred subjects appertaining to their mythology ; and solemnlydedicated to the festive celebration of some mystic rites of theirreligion. From this place, after a short pause, the procession moved