TIBET. 
253 
present, from the unerring signs of wisdom and greatness stamped 
upon his brow, and the early traits of his sublime character which 
had been already evidently displayed. Nor did he drop the subject, 
without enlarging on the partiality which the Lama had entertained 
for the English in his state of pre-existence, and regretting that his 
tender age rendered him at present unable to converse with me. 
Much conversation afterwards followed, on the subject of my com¬ 
mission, in which he manifested great anxiety to remove any unfa¬ 
vourable idea I might have formed, respecting his friendly disposition, 
in consequence of the difficulties which had been thrown in the way 
of my proceeding to his court. He told me that many letters had 
passed upon the subject between him and Dalai Lama, who was al¬ 
ways favourably inclined towards the English; but he principally at¬ 
tributed the discouragement and obstruction I had experienced to Ge- 
sub Rimbochay: in his apologies also he glanced strongly at the 
Chinese. 
The Tibetians do not, it is true, bend under the immediate autho¬ 
rity of that court; but its influence overawes them in all their pro¬ 
ceedings, and produces a timidity and caution in their conduct, more 
suited to the character of subjects, than allies. The jealousy with 
which they regard this interference of the Chinese, and their uneasi¬ 
ness under the yoke, though it rests so lightly upon them, was mani- 
% 
fest, from the distant reserve with which they treated those officers 
and troops, who came for no other purpose than to do honour to their 
high-priest. They were not suffered to lodge within the confines of 
the monastery; this, I understood, would have been considered as a 
