230 
TIBET. 
house, memorable for the birth of the present Teshoo Lama : it was 
named Keesoo. His father, an uncle of Dalai Lama’s, his mother, and 
also the infant Lama, 1 was informed, were then residing there. 
We halted this evening at Tsondue, three-and-twenty miles from 
Dukque, and within an easy day’s journey of Teshoo Loomboo. The 
glitter of the gilding betrayed the tops of some of the edifices, as the 
sun shone obliquely upon them; but we could not, even with our 
glasses, distinguish much more. 
The following morning, however, our guides were determined we 
should be there early. We were disturbed long before the dawn, 
though we had to travel only a distance of about ten miles, and by 
torch-light mounted our horses, so as to arrive at Teeshoo Loomboo 
just as the sun was rising. If the magnificence of the place was to be 
increased by any external cause, none could more superbly have 
adorned its numerous gilded canopies, and turrets, than the sun rising 
in full splendor directly opposite. It presented a view wonderfully 
beautiful and brilliant; the effect was little short of magic, and it made 
an impression, which no time will ever efface from my mind. 
We ascended by a narrow street through the middle of the monas» 
tery, and were conducted to very splendid apartments, bright with gay 
colours, and situated in the centre of the palace, amidst a profusion 
of gorgeous finery. At the instant of our entrance, we heard the deep 
tone of many sonorous instruments, which were summoning the reli¬ 
gious to their morning orisons. 
