TIBE T. 
283 
business, called for his presence in that quarter. He said that he should 
be but a short time absent, and, until his return, he recommended me to 
the care of Soopoon Choomboo, who would be frequently with me, and 
attend to all my wishes, which he enjoined me freely to communicate. 
But the kind and affectionate attention of the Regent would not suffer 
him to depart, without making, what he deemed, a proper provision 
for our comfort. Previously to the accustomed ceremonies at parting, 
he presented Mr. Saunders and myself with complete dresses, made 
after the fashion of the country; rich satin garments lined with 
furs, and huge bulgar boots. Indeed, the daily increase of cold most 
forcibly reminded us, that a change of raiment would soon become 
indispensably necessary ; for so rapidly, had the winter already set in, 
that water placed in open vessels in our rooms, during the night, be¬ 
came a solid mass of ice; and by the exposure of cream, I obtained 
every morning a rich repast for my breakfast. 
We now rose to take our leave, and were turning to quit the room, when 
the Regent, Soopoon Choomboo, and the Lama of Luddauk, rose also. 
The Regent, I was now informed, intended me the honour of a visit, pre¬ 
viously to his departure. I cannot doubt, that curiosity had a great share 
in this compliment, and I was willing to gratify it, by exhibiting to his 
inspection, all the apparatus I happened to have with me, which, differ¬ 
ing in contrivance from what I found here, was likely to attract his notice. 
When this compliment was paid us by the Regent, our apartments 
were thrown open, and upon entering them, one of the first objects that 
forcibly attracted his notice and that of his attendants, was an iron 
canopied camp bedstead, with its European furniture. 
O o 
