TIBET. 
249 
Regent himself, assisted by Soopoon Choomboo, was to conduct the 
cavalcade. 
A curious desire, I must own, to be personally witness of so singu¬ 
lar a ceremony, induced me to make some effort to be admitted of the 
party. I accordingly ordered Poorungheer to wait upon the Regent, 
and express my earnest wishes to testify, on all occasions, the respect 
I entertained for the character of the Lama; and to say, that I should 
be peculiarly happy to attend his suite, if he thought proper to allow 
me so great an honour: but however strongly my curiosity had been 
excited, I had formed no great expectation that my offer would be 
accepted; and I was therefore but little disappointed when Poorung¬ 
heer returned to me with excuses from the Regent, declining to accept 
the offer of my company, on account of the Chinese, whose jealousy of 
strangers is too well known, and to whom he was particularly anxious 
of giving no occasion of offence : but at the same time he politely 
acknowledged my attention, and I had the satisfaction to hear, ex¬ 
pressed himself greatly pleased with it. 
The party proceeded from the monastery, on Saturday the 27th of 
September, before the dawn of day, towards Kylee, situated in the 
valley of Painom, where the infant Lama at this time resided with his 
parents. The grand ceremony of his removal commenced the next 
day. , . 
The Lama was attended by a very numerous concourse of people, 
and followed with every possible display of enthusiastic homage. 
The place prepared for his reception was not more than sixteen miles 
from Kylee; yet so great was the retinue, and so frequently were 
