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

TIBET. 577who isrelated by blood to a very numerous and powerful family, wassolicited, it is said, on the decease of Daeb Ruba, to take upon himselfthe cares of government. He complied with the application ; and,by a coalition of offices, became at once the civil and religious ruler.Having now possessed an undivided and uncontrolled influence, ashead of affairs, both ecclesiastical and political, for five years, he hashad the opportunity of placing many of his relationsin the most importantoffices under tliat government. He has besides taken careto settle the reversion of the administration in his own family, byhaving lately nominated his nephew, Lam' Ghassatoo, who isnow aninfant in arms, for his successor, and by causing him to be publiclyinvested with the Raaj. However he is yet looked up to as the realruler,and doubtless will continue to he so, during the minority of theinfant Raja ;and indeed, as Lama, he will always have a right to inspectand direct the conduct of the reigning Raja.When hostilities had ceased to distract the Company's possessions :when peace had restored security to commerce, and allowed accumulatingrevenues, to replenish a weakened treasury ; it became with mean object of the highest ambition, atthis bright sera of the Company'safi'airs, to add to their prosperity, by opening a new channel for theextension of their commerce. If I have fallen short of the general expectation,I trust the failure will not be imputed to a want of zeal; noexertion has been neglectedwhich my humble talents qualified me touse. The impediments that existed, it will be observed, were entirelyindependent of my conduct, and such as it was impossible for me totake any effectual measures to obviate. Affairs being then in sucii a