attendant on a man of superior rank, who seemed to be mere earnest
and attentive than the rest, in the performance of the ceremony. He
wore a rich satin garment lined with fox skins, and a cap with a tassel
of scarlet sift, flowing from the centre of the crown upon the sides all
round, and edged with a broad band of Siberian for.
According to appointment, I went in the afternoon to make mylast
visit to Teshoo Lama. I received his dispatches for the Governor
General, and from his parents two pieces of satin for the Governor,
with many compliments.
They presented me with a vest lined with lambs’ skins, making me
many assurances of a long remembrance, and observing, that at this
time Teshoo Lama was an infant, and incapable of conversing^-but
they hoped to see me again when he should he grown to maturity. I
replied, that, by favour of the Lama, I might perhaps again visit'this
•country; that I looked forward with anxiety to the time when he
should mount the Musnud, and should then be extremely happy in the
opportunity of paying him my respects. After some expressions and
protestations of mutual regard, my visit was concluded. 1 received
the scarfs, and took my leave, with a resolution to pursue my jourhey
towards Bengal at the dawn of day.
C H A P T E R X.
Quit the Monastery o f Terpalihg, on my Return towards Bengal
AnneeGdomba—Annees-, dWuds— G^lohgS}Mdnks’.— Cdrsbr^ View
o f the interdicted Orders.— Polyandry— Influence on' the Mariners
i ' o f the People— Pendency to check tkfflifmigriw, Increase o f Population—
andprepent the inhuman Practice known-to prevail in'Chlhc?.
■ t— Marriage Ceremonies.— Bleak and dreary Aspect o f the Country
— Rigour o f the Winter— extreme Purity o f the Atmosphere '.— Precautions
to secure the Surface o f the Soil, and at the sanie TVhie
enrich the Lands.— Course o f the Seasons.— Dlikquel — -Lake
Ramlchieu.—Skating— Solidity o f Ice— intense Severity o f the
- Frost.— Shawl Goats.— Soomoonang — Punukka —Bujtadewar—
Rungpore.
A S sOon as the sun had risen, we quitted the gates 'o^'^^^^f&sitery
of Terpaling, and descended to the valley, crossing a narrow Watercourse,
that divided the hill which wO had left, from ahoftfer (in the
opposite; side: having ascended this^ we came down-shhn after upoif
a wide plain, bounded on all sides’'by naked errunerfces; uporr the
summit bf One of which, and on its southern aspect, was a large reli*
gious settlement of female devotees. This' kind of edifice is styled
ah Annee Goomba. ■ In this solitary station, lik'd’th^ Gy longs'of
Y y .