32 ■ LH A SA “
converted to our great faith, and if you can convince
Nicholas, whose sympathies with Buddhism are universally
admitted, it will not be long before the whole
Russian race are obedient servants and loyal disciples of
your Holiness.
Such, in rough outline, was Dorjieff’s policy. It
produced an almost immediate effect upon the Dalai
Lama himself. Impetuously, without consulting his
national council, he accepted the suggestion, and even
proposed to visit St. Petersburg in person. The
sacred cushion on which his Holiness should sit in
audience with the Tzar, and a beautiful codex aureus
from his own library, were sent at once, and will probably
remain in the Imperial museum on the banks of
the Neva as a curious and significant reminiscence of the
great and daring policy which so nearly succeeded in
Russianizing, at a stroke, the most autocratic and far-
reaching religious empire of Asia. But the Dalai Lama
had reckoned too hastily ; the Tsong-du had still to be
consulted, and here the Dalai Lama received a check
which was the beginning of all the internal troubles
which have hampered the proper management of Tibetan
diplomacy ever since. The Tsong-du replied diplomatically
that it was very nice of the Russian Emperor,
but that they required no protection, and that the
Dalai Lama had exceeded his authority in committing
the country even to a consideration of Dorjieff’s offer.
The Grand Lama did all in his power to induce them
to accept his scheme, but without avail, and the next
year another ruse was adopted by Dorjieff to further the
interests of his patrons.
He went again to St. Petersburg, and there was
received in audience by the Emperor himself; he
RUSSIA APPEARS ON THE SCENE 33
returned after a short stay, the bearer of two interesting
things* One was a letter, asking that the Dalai Lama
should, despatch an envoy to Russia to discuss the
matter more fully. The other was a complete set
of vestments appertaining to a Bishop of the Russian
Church. Later on in this book their importance and
significance will be referred to ; for the moment, the
political fruits of this embassy to St. Petersburg claim
our attention. In spite of the recent declarations of
the Tsong-du, the Dalai Lama, on his own responsibility,
sent in response Tsan-nyid, an abbot of high rank,
to accompany Dorjieff, who, a month after his arrival
at Lhasa, was again on the road to Europe. The two
men made their way through Nepal and India to
Colombo, where they embarked on a Russian vessel for
Odessa. Upon their arrival in Russia they were received
with the highest consideration, and a second
audience with the Tzar was granted them. Ultimately
they set off on their return journey and reached Lhasa
about December, 1901. They there laid before the
Dalai Lama a proposal from the Russian Government,
that a Prince of the royal house should take up his
residence in Lhasa for the purpose of promoting friendly
relations between the two countries. It may well be
imagined, whether it were so expressed or not in the
message, that the Russians would have considered
it necessary that a small armed guard should accompany
his Imperial Highness. The other document which
the returning abbot laid before his master was the hotly-
discussed agreement between Russia and Tibet. Those
who deny that a treaty was ever formally made
* It is of some interest to note that he made the record journey between Urga and
Lhasa; he covered the distance in ninety days.
VOL. I. 3