BOO T A N. 
65 
The morning after my arrival at Tassisudon, I sent the Gosein Poo- 
rungheer, who accompanied me as interpreter, to the palace, to ar¬ 
range the ceremony of our introduction, and fix a time for the deli¬ 
very of the dispatches, with which! had been charged by the Governor 
General, to the Daeb Raja. 
After a short absence, he returned with information, that the Raja, 
who is also a Lama, had for some days past devoted himself to Pooja 
(religious ceremonies), on account of the death of a Gylong, of high 
rank in the religious order, and greatly renowned for his sanctity 
and age. How much longer those rites might employ him, Poorung- 
heer could not, with any degree of certainty, ascertain; but, he was 
told that, until their conclusion, the Raja would continue in private, 
his attention being wholly turned from the affairs of the world, and no 
person would be permitted to interrupt him. At the same time, it was 
intimated to me, that the principal officers about his court would, in 
the interval, be ready to receive our visits; but I chose to decline 
waiting upon them, until I had seen the Raja himself. 
Having just arrived among a people, whose peculiar customs I had 
yet to learn, I confess that the mysteriousness which seemed to pre¬ 
vail, and this apparent difficulty of access, suggested to me, no very 
favourable opinion of my new friends. It occurred to me, that the 
delay probably originated, in a plan concerted to magnify the im¬ 
portance and piety of their chief: an opinion to which many of my 
attendants industriously endeavoured to give strength. This, however, 
was a rash and hasty inference; as I had the satisfaction to have 
