the arrangements necessary for the celebration of the great festivals of
ireligion; .he. is always personally attendanfc on the Lamia ; he is his cupbearer;
bebas charge of the wardrobe; and to his immediate c&re is
intrusted all theiwealth .of the .sovereign, whether derived from the-religious
offerings of his votaries» or from other and less sacred sources,
lie brings, and places before the Lama, all his food, and in particular,
pours out bis tea, of which it is the custom first to taste himself,.ih-.the
presence of his master. In fact, I have been led to understand ithat
Teshoo Lama receives neither food nor raiment from any other hand;
yet still be is found to hold a very high rank in the religious order,
which is implied by no less a title than that of Lama.
My arrival in Tibet happened at a period of high importance in the
annals of the state, as well in a political as a religious point of vfew^
for now they had to acknowledge, in the person ofaninfant, their
future sovereign, to whom also, as to their sacred pontiff, they were
about to pay the first public tribute of homage and allegiance, arid
thereby to give currency and authority to the belief, that he was the
regenerated, immortal mediator with the Supreme. On such an occasion,
it will easily be conceived, that no mark of respect, no pomp or
parade, was omitted, which, in their ideas, could possibly tend, to add
dignity and splendour to the solemn ceremony.
The Emperor of China, a votary of the Tibet faith, had commanded
a military officer of high rank, with a large detachment of troops, to
attend and escort the infant Lama; other Chinese attended, for the
purpose of bearing his Tuckt rowanf, or moving throne; and the
1A Persian term, whence pifobably the use o f this stately accommodation is derived.
Regent himSfetfr asSistcdfby.p)6po&|^©tecMb(90/ wai^ttaveondtict fch'd
easyaicade-.-‘fci
I A cuyious desire’,T .ipast, (^4,b.(^,be^^^nailyiwitnessof^^gH3
lar a ceremony, induced »me. tewjuko some tJIort to be adihbtWldk tlio
parly. Laecerdingly gr^ered,^>mngBeeB,Uoiwsait^upb^rthdi'Regent,
and /express* nay earnest 4riqbe$-t& testify,» or$ altedsi^ion^tl^'W^p^
I entertamedsfclpthe. charactefflof’thdiLama ^ ab|p to sayUjfeftbkhoirfd
b^peeuliaplyl happy to att;end>'l^Megbif‘fe A &^ f ffP f0lPe^Jfo- allow
mo so- great, an honsuff^bu^h^sl^etffslrongHJmv. ^mosiSd^a'cU l)’een
excited, I fujl formed no great expectations, tint raywiflcf'kvtfuldfibb |
Itcepted'; and I w'ast therefore1 but dittfe da^ppoiMed: when Ro'oftlng-
heer returned to me with excuses* fram|.ffi©lfegent$d^Mnbig$o. accept
the feffeiyof; my..ebmpanyy on- account- ofthe^Chinesqi, .whose'|bdlotfsytef
strangersis; too; well known, and to whonibe \\as p^rtttculaily anxious
of giving no» occasion, .off offence ? .bufe at the sarnb time!
aeknbwJedged my attention, and I had the -js^afefketiidni fcabjjear,, expressed/
himself greatly (pleased with it.. -i
v, The party proceeded froip the monastery^,qn,4Saturday She thiol
!September,, before, the dawm of.’day, towards Kylee, situated in the
valley of Painorii, whereAhe infant Jharna at- this time. -resided with bis
paients. -‘The gt^nd ce^mony of-feisv Removal’ commenced thpmex*
day.. ■
. The Lama w-as abended by a very numerous- concourse ‘of pehpl#
and followed >wiltu« every possiblid‘diifplay->J©ff enthusiastic j hom.agSj
The place prepared for his receptie&t-was not more* that» sisxteen/milea
from Kylee; yetaso. great was the retinue;. andi^b^|;equently. .were