A JOURNEY TO TIBET. 2O9 



of his gardens, fituated on the plain within fight of the 

 Monaftery, where it was vifible a confiderable encamp- 

 ment had been formed. The Lama quitted his apart- 

 ment at the firft dawn of day, and was lodged in the 

 tents pitched for his accommodation before the fun had 

 rifen. 



In the courfe of the mornings at the hour appointed 

 for his admiflion, Poorungeer went down to the Lama's 

 tents. He heard, on entering the gates of the enclofure, 

 that the young Lama was taking his recreation in the 

 garden, ranging about, which became with him a very 

 favourite amufement. As it was at this time in Tibet 

 the warmed part of the year, that he might enjoy the 

 benefit of the air, his attendants had chofen a fpot 

 where the trees afforded a complete fhade, to place an 

 elevated feat of cufhions for the young Lama, after his 

 exercife, to reft upon. In this fituation Poorungeer 

 found him, when fummoned to his prefence, attended 

 by the Regent, his parents, Sqopoon Choomboo, the cup- 

 bearer, and the principal officers of the court. After 

 making three obeifances at as remote a diftance as it was 

 pofiible, Poorungeer approached, and prefented to the 

 Lama, according to the cuftom of Tibet, a piece of 

 white pelong, and then delivered the letters and pre- 

 vents with which he had been charged. The packages 

 were all immediately opened before the Lama, who had 

 every article brought near to him, and viewed them 

 feparately one by one* The letter he look into his own 

 hand, himfelf broke the feal, and taking from under 

 the cover a firing of pearls, which it enclol'ed, ran them 

 over between his fingers, as they read their rofaries, and 

 then with an arch air placed them by his fide, nor 

 would, while the narrator was in his prefence, permit 

 any one to take them up. Poorungeer fays the young 

 Lama regarded him With a very kind and figuificant 



look, 



