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

540 TIBET.conversation then ensued, and after awhile Gyeung withdrew.Gyapsoon found occasion to commence the history of his fortunes." Lassa,said he, is my native place, my home ; but some years have nowelapsed since, vexed by hostile parly, I was obliged to relinquish it,and come hastily away. Hence I was compelled, in my haste, toabandon a variety of articles, which I had collected for my amusement,and a fine collection that I possessed of my native arms." He thenenumerated to me his particular predilections, that he excelled indrawing the bow, delighted in martial exercises, and was well skilled inthe management of the horse ;that he was surpassed by no one of hiscountrymen in mechanical contrivances, and that architecture also hadbeen his study. " Thus attracting their jealousy, continued he, myqualifications soon drew upon me the enmity of the men of Lassa.They strove, by all means, to prejudice the Ambas (Chinese officers)against me, for no other reason, but my superiority to them, in allworks of skill and ingenuity. Thus sorely pressed, I applied to DalaiLama for his advice. He recommended me instantly to retire fromLassa, and seek protection from Teshoo Lama, to whom he wouldwrite letters in my favour. I did so, and here I have remained eversince. It was once in contemplation with me, to abandon, altogether,my native home, and seek protection from the Governor General ofBengal; but it happened that my design was changed, partly by theadvice of Teshoo Lama, and partly by apprehensions of the intemperateheat of India: yet, driven from my home, I was long dissatisfiedwith the prospects around me, and the strength of my predilectionlor the place where 1 was born, still increased with my absence from