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

"TIBET. 369Necessity has begotten a commerce with foreign countries, which,however, is but languidly conducted, by a people naturally slothfuland indolent. The soil and climate of Tibet being favourable to theproduction of few commodities, render it a proper field for a varietyof mercantile projects. But an example of industry is wanting : whenmen once become acquainted with thepleasures of luxury, and theprofits of commerce, they will be roused from their apathy ; and newobjects of opulence and ease, of which they never dreamt before, beingpresented to their view, will raise in them a desire of a more splendidway of life than their ancestors enjoyed, and will stimulate them to -an investigation and improvement of their natural resources, which atpresent are, even by themselves, but imperfectly understood. Theform of government, which is arbitrary, is inimical to industry andenterprize. Both in Tibet and Bootan, the first member of the state is ,^the chief merchant, and his prerogative, in this capacity, is of greatimportance to him ; for he is invested by it, with advantages abovethe common adventurer, in the right of commanding the labour of thepeople^ whom the laws compel to bear burdens, and to exert themselves;,in various ways, when called upon by the mandate of their chief.Hence, emulation is suppressed, and trade monopolized by the sovereigUjand by a few other persons in the first ofiices under government,who are indulged with a limited privilege, and whose traffic is chieflyconfined to clothing and provisions, to articles which are in constantdemand, and which find at all times a rapid sale. Though the soil ofTibet is, in its greatest extent, unimprovable by cultivation; and thoughthe features of the countiy are strongly expressive of poverty, yet,