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TIBET. 
imperfect scheme, render abortive the endeavours towards carrying into 
execution, the more important object of your plan; which I conceived 
to be an immediate intercourse between the English, and the natives 
of Tibet. I have obtained the Regent Chanjoo Cooshoo’s promise of 
encouragement to all merchants, natives of India, that may be sent to 
traffic in Tibet, on behalf of the government of Bengal. No impedi¬ 
ment, therefore, now remains in the way of merchants, to prevent their 
carrying their commercial concerns into Tartary. Your authority 
alone, is requisite to secure them the protection of the Regent of Teshoo 
Loomboo, who has promised to grant free admission into Tibet, to all 
such merchants, natives of India, as shall come recommended by you; 
to yield them every assistance requisite for the transport of their goods 
from the frontiers of Bootan; and to assign them a place of residence 
for vending their commodities, either within the monastery, or, should 
it be considered as more eligible, in the town itself. 
I did not deem it consistent with the spirit of your designs, at the 
present period, to be importunate for greater privileges than these, to 
native traders: such as I have obtained will, I trust, be competent to 
the purpose, of opening the much wished for communication; and as 
this mode coincided with the Regent’s wishes, it appeared to me better 
to adopt it, than to check the opening trade with a load of taxes, and 
a variety of embarrassing forms. Let merchants first learn the way, 
taste the profit, and establish the intercourse ; and afterwards the 
traffic may bear a tax, which if laid upon it in its infancy, might 
suppress its growth. These concessions, in which the Regent readily 
acquiesced, will, I presume, be considered as most material, towards 
