1890.] 
at Bhot Bdgdn in Howrah. 
77 
We see in our mind’s eye this personage in his ascetic garb with 
danda and kamandalu in his hands, and with his tiger skin flung on his 
shoulders, ushered into the saloon of our Government House, and intro- 
duced to the first Governor- General as the holy envoy from the Grand 
Lama. He presents his credentials to him, and lays before him the Lama’s 
presents, which included “talents of gold and silver, bulsos of gold dust, 
and bags of “ genuine musk.” Long and searching were the inquiries 
which were made by the inquisitive Mr. Hastings, and tho answers he 
received were most satisfactory and suggestive, and led to tho mission of 
Mr. Bogle. When Puran Gir accompanied Mr. Bogle on this mission, his 
services were found of immense value, and almost indispensable at every 
important stage of the journey. At Tasbi Chhoijang, while the mission 
waited to receive the Lama’s permission to proceed to Tibet, Chinese 
intrigue and jealousy at Lhasa, operating at the Tashi Llmnpo Court, 
threatened to cut short the progress of the deputation. The Tashi Lama 
had written letters to Mr. Hastings, to Mr. Bogle, and to Puran Gir, which 
were recoivod by the Deb Raja. In tho two former, the addressees were 
informed that “ his (the Lama’s) country being subject to the Emper- 
“ or of China, whose order it is that he shall admit no Moghul, Hindu- 
“ stani, Patan or Fringy, he is without remedy, and China being at the 
“ distance of a year’s journey, prevents his writing to the Emperor, for 
“ permission, and desires me therefore to return to Calcutta.” 1 The com- 
munication to Puran Gir again informed him that he (the Lama) wished 
to postpone Mr. Bogle’s visit to Tibet on account of small-pox breaking 
out there. Suspecting these to be mere pretences to cover some real 
cause of aversion on the part of the Lama to see him, Mr. Bogle now al- 
most in despair turned towards our Gosain Puran, and says he, “ In this 
“ situation all my hopes of seeing Teshu Lama were chiefly founded on 
“ the Gosain. As my journey had been undertaken upon his assurances, 
“ he was engaged in honour to see it accomplished, and I endeavoured 
“ to strengthen this principle by powerful motives. While he remained 
“ at Tassisudon (Tashi Chhoijang), he could be of no service, and I 
“ readily consented to his proceeding to tho Lama.” 8 
Tho noble Gosain was keenly alive to a true senso of honour ; he 
was much trusted by the Lama, and his words carried weight. He ex- 
plained to him the true state of things, and disabused his mind of wrong 
impressions against the English, and at his suggestion the Tashi Lama 
wrote to tho Dalai Lama’s Minister, drawing his attention to the courtesy 
and higli-mindedness of the Feringis in their dealings with the defeated 
Depa Shidar in compliance with his request, and warning him of the 
consequence of rofusing permission to the admittance of the mission. 
* Markham, ibid., p. 45. 8 Markham, ibid,, p. 46. 
