had accompanied us for the purpose of a conference
with the Rajah. Their wishes were complied with,
and we waited till noon before proceeding.
A gay and animated scene was produced by the
concourse of women dressed in their pretty striped
and crossed cloaks, who brought tokens of good-will.
Amongst them Meepo’s wife appeared conspicuous
from the large necklaces* and amulets, corals, and
silver filagree work, with which her neck and shoulders
were loaded: she wore on her head a red tiara bedizened
with seed pearls and large turquoises, and a gold fillet
of filagree bosses united by a web of slender chains;
her long tails were elaborately plaited, and woven with
beads, and her cloak hooked in front by a chain of
broad silver links studded with turquoises. White silk
scarfs, the emblem of peace and friendship, were
thrown over our hands by each p a rty; and rice, eggs,
fowls, kids, goats, and 'Murwa beer, poured in apace,
to the great delight of our servants.
We returned two visits of ceremony, one to Meepo’s
house, a poor cottage, to which we carried presents of
chintz dresses for his two little g irls; who were busy
teasing their hair with cylindrical combs, formed of a
single slender joint of bamboo slit all round half-way
up into innumerable teeth. Our other visit was paid
to the Lama’s family, who inhabited a large house not
far from the Rajah’s. The lower story was an area
enclosed by stone walls, into which the cattle, &c.,
were driven. An outside stone stair led to the upper
* The lumps of amber forming these were larger than the fist; they are
procured in East Tibet, probably from Birmah.
story, where we were received by the head of the
family, accompanied by a great concourse of Lamas.
He conducted us to a beautiful little oratory at one
end of the building, fitted up like a square temple, and
CLASP OP A WOMAN’S CLOAK.
lighted with latticed windows, covered with brilliant
and tasteful paintings by Lhassan artists. The beams
of the ceiling were supported by octagonal columns
painted red, with broad capitals. Everywhere the lotus,
the mani, and the chirki (or wheel with three rays,
emblematic of the Boodhist Trinity), were introduced ;
“ Om Mani Padmi om” in gilt letters, adorned the
projecting end of each beam; and the Chinese “ cloud
messenger,” or winged dragon, floated in azure and
gold along the capitals and beams, amongst scrolls and
groups of flowers. At one end was a sitting figure of
G-orucknath in Lama robes, surrounded by a glory,
with mitre and beads; the right hand holding the
Dorje, and the forefinger raised in prayer. Around