TIBET. 
329 
to the Governor General. I now received the visits of many friends, 
who had shewn me much civility during my residence here, and by 
their kind attention had relieved the solitary gloom of the monastic life 
I led, which indeed, except that I was exempt from daily attendance 
upon the sacred duties, to which the Gylongs were obliged by their 
vows, was equally dull and uniform. But I could not be insensible 
of the obliging and attentive assiduity with which all who had access 
within the monastery, attempted to beguile my time: either by vari¬ 
ous conversation, by instruction in their language, or by amusing me 
with the games of which they had any knowledge. Amongst these, 
chess held a distinguished place, and here I often met with a skilful 
antagonist. 
I commenced my return towards Bengal, on Tuesday, the 2d of 
December. The last visits of friendship and ceremony detained me 
at Teshoo Loomboo till the morning was far advanced; and it was 
past ten o’clock when I quitted the palace. I could not, however, bid 
adieu to the place, till, in conformity with the custom of these regions, 
I had bound a white silk scarf round the capitals of each of the four 
columns, that stood within the apartment I had occupied. I stopped 
not, to examine nicely, the obligations to this ceremony. If it were 
meant as a tribute of gratitude, it was certainly due to the comfortable 
accommodation this dwelling had afforded me. If it were the solemn 
designation of a long farewell, it equally accorded with my state of 
mind at the moment. 
Having descended to the street, we found our horses saddled at the 
door, and a multitude of beggars assembled round them. Our conduc- 
