65 
1890.] o< Bhot Bogan in Howrah. 
of his intended visit to Tibet by a concatenation of influences ultimately 
emanating from China, they were finally removed by the zealous, per- 
severing and masterly services of Puran Gir Gosain. The party accord- 
ingly left that capital, on the 13th October, and came to a place called 
Phai’i-jong, 1 where were observed the boundary-marks that separate 
Bhutan from Tibet. Thence they rode up, on the 8th November, to the 
gate of Tashi Rabgya,® the palace of the Tashi Lama. After several 
interviews with him, and residence there for some time, they, at his 
desire, accompanied him to his nest palace and monastery, Tashi 
Lhunpo. Here, during a sojourn of five months, Mr. Bogle picked 
up some knowledge of the Tibetan language, acquainted himself with 
the religious tenets and practices of the people, studied their character, 
habits and manners, noted their unique marriage customs, penetrated 
into the mystery of their peculiar hierarchical government, threaded 
his way into the mysterious labyrinth of their politics, and, with cautious 
or rather furtive observation, acquired a partial knowledge of the pro- 
ductive resources and the trade routes of the country, old and new, but 
could carry out the object of his mission in only a limited way. And 
the little that he was able to do in this last respect, was due to his 
frankness and ability to understand the people and above all to conform 
to their ways that were innocent. He himsolf says, “ The Lama used 
“ daily to send a priest to me in the early morning, with some bread and 
“tea or some boiled rice and chopped mutton, of which last, as I always 
“ like to do at Rome as they do at Rome, I used to eat very heartily.” 
He used even to put on “ a Tibetan dress consisting of a purple satin 
“ tunic lined ” with “ Siberian furskins, a yellow satin cap, faced round 
“ with sable, and crossed with a red silk tape and a pair of red silk Bulgar 
“ hide boots.” He followed the Lama’s example and gave alms to the 
Sannyasis and Faqirs. He was not only admitted into the churches where 
he saw the idols, and tho nature of the holy service, but introduced to 
the ladies of tho Lama’s household ; and thus there grow up between 
Mr. Bogle and the good Lama a real personal friendship. Puran Gir 
Gosain, who enjoyed the esteem and confidence of both these persons, 
contributed in a great measure to bring about this desirable state of 
things. The deputation left Tashi Lhunpo, in April 1775, and returned 
in June following. Warren Hastings, in order to keep up an inter- 
course with the Himalayan states, so auspiciously opened, sent Dr. 
1 Phari-jong is a pass at the head o£ the Chmribi valley which was need both by 
Boglo and Turner. Near it is the city of Paro which Mr. Bogle selected as a trade 
mart for the merchandise of Bengal and Tibet. 
8 Tashi Eabgya is a small plaoe in which the Tashi Lama temporarily resided, 
when small-pox broke out at Tashi Lhunpo. 
I 
