s. The Lamas of Sera failed
not to acquire great enthusiasm for the Nomekhan; they regarded him as a
saint of the first degree, and compiled an enumeration of his perfections
as extensive and pompous as that of the perfections of Buddha. Supported
by the powerful party he had got together, the Nomekhan withdrew all
bounds from his projects of usurpation. It was then that he caused the
three young Lamas to be murdered in succession, in order to keep for
himself the position of Regent. Such was the Nomekhan of Yang-Tou-Sse,
or rather, such was he represented to us during our stay at Lha-Ssa.

It was not easy, as may be seen, to overthrow a personage whose power was
so solidly based. The Kalon ministers, unequal to an open struggle with
the Nomekhan, resolved to dissimulate, and to work, meanwhile, in secret,
at the downfall of this execrable man. The assembly of the Houtouktou
elected a new Tale-Lama, or rather indicated the child into whose body
the soul of the Living Buddha had transmigrated. He was enthroned at the
summit of the Buddha-La. The Nomekhan, like the other dignitaries,
proceeded to throw himself at his feet, worshipped him with all devotion,
but with the full resolution, doubtless, to make him undergo a fourth
transmigration, when he should think proper.

The Kalons secretly adopted measures to prevent a new catastrophe. They
consulted with the Bandchan-Remboutchi of Djachi-Loumbo, and it was
determined that, to check the infamous projects of the Nomekhan, they
should call to their aid the irresistible power of the Emperor of China.
A request was accordingly drawn up and signed by the Bandchan and the
four Kalons, and privately sent to Peking by the embassy of 1844. For
three special reasons the government of Peking could not dispense with
granting to the Thibetians the protection they demanded under these grave
circumstances. In the first place the Tartaro-Mantchou dynasty had
solemnly declared itself protector of the Tale-Lama; in the second place,
the Nomekhan, as being a native of Yang-Tou-Sse, in the province of
Kan-Sou, was in some degree amenable to the Chinese Emperor; finally,
politically speaking, it was an excellent opportunity for the court of
Peking to establish its influence in Thibet, with a view to the
realisation of its protects of usurpation.

The request sent to Peking by the Bandchan-Remboutchi and the four
Kalons, was received with all the favour that could be desired, and t