438 
TIBET. 
the monastery, found means to escape in time across the Berham- 
pooter. Here, choosing a station remote from the river, the party 
remained awhile free from annoyance or pursuit; till at length the 
Lama, when it was perfectly ascertained that his capital had become 
a prey to the rapacity of plunderers, was conducted by slow marches 
towards Lassa. 
In the mean time the Nipalese, eager to possess the spoils, which 
i 
the fortune of war had placed within their reach, abandoned themselves 
entirely to plunder. The valuable booty, which had for ages been 
accumulating at Teeshoo Loomboo, appears to have been the chief, if. 
not the sole, object of their inroad; for no sooner had they stripped 
the monastery of its treasures, and robbed the mausolea of the Lamas 
•f all their most valuable ornaments, than they withdrew themselves 
towards the frontier, in order that they might effectually secure the 
spoils they had acquired. 
In the mean time intelligence was conveyed, with the utmost expe¬ 
dition, to the court of China, of this daring and unprovoked aggression, 
from a people who had commenced hostilities upon the sacred ter¬ 
ritory. This information was no sooner received in China, than an 
edict was issued for the instant formation of an army, to protect and 
avenge the Lama. 
The borders of Tartary, immediately contiguous to China, afforded a 
force amply sufficient for the occasion; and troops were summoned to 
assemble, and directed to proceed without delay, to Teshoo Loomboo. 
The Nipalese, however, had already decamped from thence, with a 
* 
view immediately to lodge in safety, the treasures of which they had 
