276 
TIBET. 
Lassa, and Nipal, I could not avoid giving my friends, ample credit 
ior their superior skill. 
Besides Soopoon Choomboo, who was his constant companion, I 
found the Regent attended this day, Monday, the 13th of October, by 
a young Lama from Luddauk. After the accustomed ceremonies and 
compliments had passed, we poured out copious libations of warm tea; 
and a most miscellaneous conversation immediately ensued. 
The Regent, who appeared ever anxious to receive and to communi¬ 
cate information, on all points of local, civil, and natural history, first 
directed his inquiries to the military force, the wealth, and extent of 
the British empire. He professed himself deeply interested concerning 
the war, of which he had heard so much, and which, by unhappily 
interrupting the general intercourse of nations, had augmented the 
price, and occasioned a scarcity of every article of foreign trade. I 
gratified him, as well as I was able, by recounting the leading causes of 
the war between England, and America, which once constituted a part 
of the English dominions. I endeavoured also to give him a clear idea 
of the circumstances, which compelled us to engage in a war with 
France; a war which had involved the Carnatic in confusion, inter¬ 
rupted the communication between India and Europe, and covered the 
seas with hostile fleets. 
They could not avoid expressing their surprise, that a matter of 
mere local moment, should have thus embroiled the remotest regions, 
\ 
and spread distrust and enmity, over such a wide extent of the habi¬ 
table world. However, I assured him, that Bengal still enjoyed pro¬ 
found tranquillity; and indeed I felt happy in being able confidently 
