TIBET. 
423 
been long accustomed to consider him as an agent of the government 
of Bengal. 
He found no change whatever to have ensued, in the administration, 
since his attendance upon me in Tibet. 
The country enjoyed perfect tranquillity,, and the only event that 
had happened during his absence, of importance in their annals, was 
the inauguration of the infant Lama; this event took place in the pre¬ 
ceding year; and as it is evidently a concern of the highest moment, 
whether considered in a political, or religious point of view, being no 
less than the recognizance, in an infant form, of their regenerated im¬ 
mortal sovereign, and ecclesiastical supreme, I was induced to bestow 
more than common pains, to trace the ceremonies that attended the 
celebration of so great an event; conceiving, that the novelty of the 
subject, might render the account curious, even if it should be found 
to contain no information of real utility. I shall therefore, without 
further apology, subjoin the result of my inquiries; premising only, 
that my authority for the description, is derived principally from 
Poorungheer, and confirmed, with some additional particulars, by the 
concurring reports of a Gosein, who was at the time, present on the 
ft 
spot. 
The Emperor of China appears, on this occasion, to have taken a 
very conspicuous part, in giving testimony of his respect and zeal, for 
the great religious father of his faith. Early in the year 1 784, he sent 
ambassadors from the court of Pekin to Teshoo Loomboo, to repre¬ 
sent their sovereign, in supporting the dignity of the high priest, and 
to do honour to the occasion of the assumption of his office. Dalai 
