to amuse me; I listened with attention to his discourse : he had
the reputationof superior talents » and to this» fio doubt, he owed his
elevation, in the time of the former Lama, with whom he was said
to be .in high favour; ffOr was he- less distinguished by the present
Regent.
A large reflecting telescope» which I had brought with me, afforded
an inducement to Soopoon Choomboo, for visiting mo in the eV<aaing
of Sunday, the 19th of October. I shewed bkn, thro«ghit,seyeraI stars
tot visible to the naked eye; but I found» that he was ndlfeer igika-
rant of the satellites of Jupiter, nor of the ding Of Satura; and I learnt
from him, that all the distinguished planets, were pel seats of somefor
Other of the objects of their veneration. To this circumstance» indeed,
the Tibetians attribute their brilliancy and splendour 4 and ;point itjut
their revolutions, together with the glorious orb of day, round the
imaginary mountain Soomeroo, whose summit is», in their aj^rehensiQn,
the elevated station, of the chief of all the gods.
This may be sufficient to shew the extent, and nature, of their proficiency
in the sciences. It intimates also their agreement With their
southern neighbours, in an original derivation of their scientific knowledge
from one common source. There appears indeed to have been,
from the remotest time, a connection and intercourse between Tibet and
India. I Collected, as I have already hinted, from repeated conferences
with the Regent; and with Soopoon Choomboo, as well as from other
source's, that the established opinion here is, that they. derived their
religion and learning from the west. Whether their, first Lama, the
founder of their faith, had his origin in Gy a, (Durgeedin) or Benares,
(Oofoonas&e) is. npt sp certain; bu-t/Benares, in the present day, seems
to have the .higfa^jt^olaim to theirijespechand veneration: >
The a^sqnqp of thp Regent, had now restored, me to comparatively
greater freedom, and left, rp ^ t- leisure,.to gratify my curiosity, by ai
more minute examination of the neighbourhood of Teshoo Loomhoo. k
Here, therefore, I shall thrQW> jQg§ther».with9Jit': any strict regard to
methodical arrangement, gpme pf t^g most important observations I
was, at this time more particular-ly, enabled to wa&n» respecting the
state of. the country around me,andthe customs and opinions of its
inhabitants^.../ .
TaAtite Loomboo, the seat of Teshoo and tbe.
capital of that part of Tibet,.immediately'aubjnfLJcp bis authority, is
situated, in 29° 4 ' 2Q" north latitude1*, M fid g9°, 7',fast longitude, from
Grpeftwiqh- ,lt is a large monastfry^consisting pf three or four hundred
houses, the .habitations of theQylongs, besides temples,, mausoleums»
and the palace of thf sovereign pontiff; in which is eomprised also»
the residence ofthe Regent, and of all the, subordinate officers, both eocle*
4astical* and civil», belonging, to thp It gst included within the!
hollow face of a high rock, and has-a southern'aspect.. Its- buildings" are
aJj|,o£,stone» none less than two stories higbi .flat rQofedv and crowned
with a parapet, rising considerably ah8$e the roof» composed sfihtsatM
and brush-woed» inserted between Irntnes of tusher, which form a
6 From the medium of iSix fiberidian aMthttesbr the etm»fafieii with, a brass sexiah$
and artificial horizon, both of Ramsden’s.
390 4*20“ N . Lat. of Teshoo Loombo. 89° y ' E. Long, of Teshoo Loomboo.
22 35 11 ... . Calcutta. 88 3 5 --------- -— —■ Calcutta.
6 29 20 North fowa Calcutta. • ; 32 East from Calcutta. ™