72 Gaur Das B y sac k — No t es on a Buddhist Monastery [No. 1, 
“ of the Gauges will probably tend to remove these strong prepossessions 
“ against the climate of Bengal, and to produce an intercourse with the 
“northern nations. The safe return of the people whom the Lama 
“proposes to send next winter to visit the holy places in Bengal will 
“ serve to inspire their countrymen with confidence ; the fondness to 
“ the Tibetans for every thing strange or curious, strengthened by reli- 
“ gion, will probably lead many others to undertake so meritorious 
“a journey; and these pilgrimages, like the Hajj at Mckkah, may in 
“ time open a considerable mart for the commodities of Bengal.” 1 
Warren Hastings, apprised of the Lama’s wish by his direct com- 
munication, and urged by Mr. Bogle as to the paramount necessity of 
complying with it, issued the necessary orders under which a piece of 
land was purchased and given to the Tashi Lama, and the con- 
struction of a Buddhist temple was commenced under the direction 
of Mr. Bogle, who had been previously trusted by the Lama with a 
considerable remittance in money. As soon as it was completed, Has- 
tings wrote thus on the subject to the Lama, who had previously sent 
images to bo deposited in it — “ By the blessing of God it will be the 
“ means of making your name known in this country, and of streng- 
“ thening the friendship which is between us, and you will consider it as 
“ a mark of the confidence and regard which I bear to you”. 3 
Mr. Markham discovered a note on the manuscript of Mr. Bogle 
which he supposes to be in the handwriting of A. Dalrymple, Esq. It 
records some of the above facts, and adds that “ people from Tibot and 
“ Bhutan constantly resorted to it “ (Bhot Mandir) ” during the time for 
which my knowledge reaches.” 3 
The connection of the British Government in India with the Bhot 
Bagan is now so far revealed as to make it clear that Warren Hastings 
at the earnest and repeated solicitations of one of the Grand Lamas 
of Tibet designated the Tashi Lama, and wishing to cultivate his friend- 
ship in the interest of Tibeto-Bengal trade, made choice, at his direc- 
tion, of a little upwards of a hundred bighas of land (either originally 
rent-free or subsequently made such), purchased it, and in 1778 by 
the sanad No. 3 gave it to him formally, and actually to Puran Gir 
Gosain as their protege and deserved favourite. It does not appear in 
the history of the missions how the 50 bighas of land, mentioned in the 
sanads Nos. 2 and 4, came to be granted to them in 1783, 1 but from 
1 Markham, ibid., p 108. 
8 Markham, ibid., note 1, p. 138, note 1, p. 146, and Turner, ibid., Introd., p. xv. 
3 Markham, ibid., note 1, page 138. 
* It should be noted here that tho Sanad No. 4 for 50 bighas was exeouted in 
favour of a Lama in 1783, but his name is identical with that of the then deceased 
Lama, who had, while living in 1778, received a grant of 100 bighas by sanad No. 
