WITJ1 TEESH00 LAMA. lgj 



Extract of a Letter from Mr. Samuel 

 Turner to the Honourable the Governor 

 General, dated Patna, 2d March, 1784. 



TOURING my refidence in Tibet 9 it was an object I 

 -*-^ had much at heart, to obtain an interview of the 

 infant TeefJioo Lama ; but the Emperor of China's ge- 

 neral orders, reftricting his guardians to keep him in 

 the ftricteft privacy, and prohibiting indifcriminately, 

 the admiffion of all perfons to his prefence, even his 

 votaries, who fhould come from adiflance, appeared to 

 me an obftacle almofl infurmountable; yet, however, 

 the Rajah, mindful of the amity fubfiiling between the 

 Governor and him, and unwilling, I believe, by any act, 

 to hazard its interruption, at length confented to grant 

 me that indulgence. As the meeting was attended with 

 very lingular and finking circumftances, I could not 

 help noting them with mod: particular attention ; and 

 though the repetition of fuch facts, interwoven and 

 blended as they are with fuperitition, may expofe me to 

 the imputation of extravagance and exaggeration, yet 1 

 fhould think myfctf reprehenfible to fupprefs them; and 

 while I divert mylelf of all prejudice, and aiTume the 

 part of a faithful narrator, I hope, however tedious the 

 detail I propofe to enter into may be found, it will be 

 received with candour, and merit the attention of thofe 

 for whofe perulal and information it is intended, were 

 it only to mark a ftrong feature in the national cha- 

 racter, of implicit homage to the great religious Sove- 

 reign, and to inftancc the verv uncommon, I may fay 

 almoil unheard-of, effects of early tuition. 



I fhall, perhaps, be dill morejuflified in making this 

 relation, by adverting to that very extraordinary afTa- 

 rance the Rajah of Teefioo Loomboo made me but a few 

 days before my departure from his court, which, with- 

 out 



