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

;TIBET. 425way from Summar to the gates of the palace.Some of the priests hadlighted rods of a perfumed composition, that burn like decayed wood,and emit, as they consume, an aromatic smoke. The rest were furnishedwith the different musical instruments they use attheir devotions,such as the gong, the cymbal, hautboy, trumpet, drums, andsea conch, which were all sounded in unison with the hymn theychanted. The crowd of spectators was kept without the street, andnone admitted on the highway, but such as properly belonged to, orhad a prescribed place in, the procession, which was arranged in thefollowing order.The van was led by three military commandants, or governors ofdistricts, at the head of six or seven thousand horsemen, armed withquivers, bows, and matchlocks. In their rear followed the ambassadorwith his suit, carrying his diploma, as is the custom of China, madeup in the shape of a large tube, and fastened on his back.Next, theChinese general advanced, with the troops under his command, mounted,and accoutred, after their way, with fire-arms and sabres ;then camea very numerous group, bearing the various standards and insignia ofstate ;after them a lull band of wind, and other sonorous instrumentsafter which were led two horses richly caparisoned, each carrying twolarge circular stoves, disposed like panniers across the horses' backs,and filled with burning aromatic woods. These were followed by asenior priest, called a Lama, who bore a box containing books of theirform of prayer, and some favourite idols. Next, nine sumptuaryhorses were led, loaded with the Lama's apparel ; after which cametlie priests immediately attached to the Lama's person, for the per-