d annoyed the Chinese; but we had absolutely offended
the people and the ruling Lamas of Tibet. Warren Hastings had sent two
missions--one under Mr. George Bogle, the other under Captain Turner--to
the Teshu Lama, and by means of these embassies had broken ground very
happily in Tibet. He had also conferred an obligation upon him by
dealing leniently with the intractable Bhutanese or Bhuteas; and he had
followed up that sense of obligation by the despatch of two successful
missions. When Lord Cornwallis threw the _aegis_ of British protection
over Nepaul, it is true that we had no diplomatic relationship with
Tibet, but we were on a good footing with the people generally, having a
native representative at Lhasa named Purungir Gosain, and being in high
repute at Shigatze, the chief city of the southern portion of Tibet. The
Tibetans, the instant the Ghoorkas raided their country, notified the
same to our government, and requested its good offices to prevent the
Ghoorkas invading their country. The Chinese, their lawful protectors,
were so far away that much damage could be inflicted upon them before
the Chinese could have time to despatch a vindicating army; therefore
they appealed to their friends the English, whom they had always found
so just, for assistance in their extremity. Their appeal was evidently
made with the impression that it would be granted. Therefore it was with
double regret they saw the English remain indifferent while the Ghoorkas
were pressing on against Lhasa, and ravaging the fertile districts
watered by the Sanpu. But their regret and surprise at our government
remaining indifferent were as nothing compared with their indignation
when they learnt that we were actually interfering on behalf of the
marauding Ghoorkas. We saved the Ghoorkas from condign chastisement, and
we of course prevented the establishment of a Chinese garrison at
Khatmandoo, which we could whenever we chose have easily expelled; but
we offended the Tibetans and the Chinese, and induced them to unite in a
policy of hostility against ourselves. After that war (1792) the
Himalayan passes were closed against us, and the Chinese block-houses
have effectually barred the way to Tibet and Northern Asia ever since.
Mr. Thomas Manning, one of the most intrepid and highly gifted of
English travellers, penetrated into Tibet in 1812, and resided there
some time. But that is the only instance in which an English traveller
overcame Bhutea and G