TIBET. 
377 
who is related by blood to a very numerous and powerful family, was 
solicited, it is said, on the decease of Daeb Ruba, to take upon him¬ 
self the cares of government. He complied with the application ; and, 
by a coalition of offices, became at once the civil and religious ruler. 
Having now possessed an undivided and uncontrolled influence, as 
head of affairs, both ecclesiastical and political, for five years, he has 
had the opportunity of placing many of his relations in the most im¬ 
portant offices under that government. He has besides taken care 
to settle the reversion of the administration in his own family, by 
having lately nominated his nephew, Lam’ Ghassatoo, who is now an 
infant in arms, for his successor, and by causing him to be publicly 
invested with the Raaj. However he is yet looked up to as the real 
ruler, and doubtless will continue to be so, during the minority of the 
infant Raja; and indeed, as Lama, he will always have a right to in¬ 
spect and direct the conduct of the reigning Raja. 
When hostilities had ceased to distract the Company’s possessions ; 
when peace had restored security to commerce, and allowed accumu¬ 
lating revenues, to replenish a weakened treasury ; it became with me 
an object of the highest ambition, at this bright sera of the Company’s 
affairs, to add to their prosperity, by opening a new channel for the 
extension of their commerce. If I have fallen short of the general ex¬ 
pectation, I trust the failure will not be imputed to a want of zeal; no 
exertion has been neglected which my humble talents qualified me to 
use. The impediments that existed, it will be observed, were entirely 
independent of my conduct, and such as it was impossible for me to 
take any effectual measures to obviate. Affairs being then in such a 
