WITH TEESHOO LAMA. 201 



faying fomething ; for it was hinted to me, that, not* 

 withstanding he is unable to reply, it is not to be 

 inferred that he cannot understand. However, his 

 incapacity of anfwering excufed me many words; and 

 I juft briefly faid, That the Governor-General, on 

 receiving the news of his deceafe in China, was over- 

 whelmed with grief and forrow, and continued to 

 lament his abfence from the world, until the cloud that 

 had overcaft the happinefs of this nation by his re-ap- 

 pearance was difpelled ; and then, if poffible, a greater 

 degree of joy had taken place than he had experienced 

 of grief on receiving the firft mournful news. The 

 Governor wilhed he might long continue to illumine 

 the world with his prefence ; and was hopeful that the 

 friendfhip which had formerly fubfifted between them 

 would not be dimimfhed, but rather that it might be- 

 come (till greater than before ; and that, by his con-* 

 tinuing to mew kindnefs to my countrymen, there 

 might be an extenfive communication between his vota- 

 ries and the dependants of the Britijli nation. The little 

 creature turned, looking fledfaftly towards me with the 

 appearance of much attention while I fpoke, and nod- 

 ded with repeated but flow movements of the head, as 

 though he underftood and approved every word, but 

 could not utter a reply. The parents, who flood by all 

 the time, eyed their fon with a look of affection, and a 

 fmile expreflive of heartfelt joy at the propriety of the 

 young Lamas conducl. His whole regard was turned 

 to us: he was filent and fedate, never once looking to- 

 wards his parents, as if under their influence at the 

 time; and with whatever pains his manners may have 

 been formed fo correct, yet I muft own his behaviour 

 on this occafion, appeared perfectly natural and fpon* 

 taneous, and not directed by any acliqn or fign of au- 

 thority. 



The fcene in which I was here brought to take a part, 



was too new and extraordinary, however trivial, if not 



Vol, I, Q abfurd 3 



