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

APPENDIX. 457No. IV.Karralive of the Particularsof the Journey of Teshoo Lama, and his Suite, from"Tibet to China, from the verbal Report of Poorungheer Gosein.i: ooRUNGHEER Gosciii, wlio attended Teshoo Lama on Ins journey to visitthe Emperor of China, relates, that during the years 1777, 1778, and 1779,Teshoo Lama, or Lama Gooroo, of Bhote, or Tibet, received repeatedinvitation,by letters, from the Emperor of China, expressed in tliemost earnestterms, that he would visit him at his capital city of Piechein, or Pekin ; butthe Lama continued for a long lime to avoid complying with the Emperor'srequests, by excuses, such as, that the climate, air, and water of China, werevery hurtful to the inhabitants of his country ; but above all, that he understoodthe small-pox was a prevalent disorder there, and that his followers, aswell ashimself, were very apprehensive of that disorder, as few instances,if any, could be given, of an inhabitant of Bhote, or Tibet, recoveringfrom it.Another letter arrived from the Emperor, stillmore earnest than any thathad yet been received, telling the Lama, " that he looked up to him as the first,and most holy being of those on earth, who devoted their time to the serviceof the Almighty ; and that the only remaining wish, he now felt, was to seehim, and to be ranked amongst his disciples.My age," says the Emperor inone of his letters, " is now upwards of seventy years, and the only blessing Ican enjoy, before I quit this hfc, will be to see you, and to join in acts ofdevotion with the divine Teshoo Lama." On the presumption that theentreaties of age and devotion would be complied with, the Emperor infoiTnedhim, that houses were erected for the reception of the Lama, and his followers,upon different places of the road by which he would pass, which had costupwards of twenty lacks of rupees : that all the inhabitants of that part of