TIBET. 
327 
l 
Th e Regent returned to the palace on Wednesday, the 19th of No¬ 
vember, after an absence of nearly a month. I had an interview with 
him the following day, in the chamber adjoining to the gallery ol idols. 
Congratulations on his return, and mutual complimentary inquiries, 
engaged much of the time allotted to this meeting. 
I had suffered a slight indisposition during his absence; and his 
attentive inquiries, with the affectionate concern he expressed, con¬ 
vinced me, that no event of the smallest importance could occur, during 
his absence, without his being immediately acquainted with it. He 
rejoiced that I had so soon recovered; and said much of the severity 
of the cold in the country, he had visited, which had compelled him to 
change his habit, and put on warmer clothing. “ There/’ said he, “ I 
became a Dukba, or citizen of the world; now, I am again a Gylong.” 
The next time I had an opportunity of meeting the Regent, he ap¬ 
peared anxious, from apprehensions of the severity of the approaching 
season, to fix a time for my return to Bengal, lest an excessive fall of 
snow, should put a stop to all communication between Tibet and 
Bootan, and render travelling impracticable. He thought it proper, 
therefore, not to delay appointing ail early period for my dismission. 
I had afterwards the opportunity of many interviews, but as these 
chiefly related to the public business on which I came, the result will 
be better seen in the report of my mission, transmitted to the Governor 
General. 
I waited upon the Regent, on Sunday, the 30th of November, in the 
hall ol audience, where, on the first day after my arrival, I had been 
