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

TIBET. 423been long accustomed toconsider him as an agent of the governmentof Bengal.He found no change whatever to have ensued, in the administration,since his attendance upon me in Tibet.The country enjoyed perfect tranquiUity^ and the only event thathad happened during his absence, of importance in their annals, wasthe inauguration of the infant Lama ;this event took place in the precedingyear; and as it is evidently a concern of the highest moment,whether considered in a political,or religious point of view, being noless than the recognizance, in an infant form, of their regenerated immortalsovereign, and ecclesiastical supreme, I was induced to bestowmore than common pains, to trace the ceremonies that attended thecelebration of so great an event; conceiving, that the novelty of thesubject, might render the account curious, even if it should be foundto contain no information of real utility. I shall therefore, withoutfurther apology, subjoin the result of my inquiries ;premising only,that my authority for the description, is derived principally fromPoorungheer, and confirmed, with some additional particulars,by theconcurring reports of a Gosein, who was at the time, present on thespot.The Emperor of China appears, on this occasion, to have taken avery conspicuous part, in giving testimony of his respect and zeal, forthe great religious father of his faith.Early in the year 1784, he sentambassadors from the court of Pekin to Teshoo Loomboo, to representtheir sovereign, in supporting the dignity of thehigh priest, andto do honour to the occasion of the assumption of his office. Dalai