Tibet and India. Bogle set out in May, 1774, on his strange journey into unknown regions, laden with presents and samples of Indian goods, and charged to make diligent use of his opportunities for gaining all kinds of information by the way. A medical officer named Hamilton bore him company. At Tassisudon, the capital of Bhután, they were kindly received by the new Deb Rájá, who had replaced the invader of Kúch-Behar. At Desherigpay, in the mountain land of Tibet, they found a warm welcome from the Teshu Láma himself, in whose train they recrossed the Tsánpu, or Upper Brahmaputra, and entered the Láma's palace at Teshu-Lumbo. He would have sent them on to Lhása, the Grand Láma's own capital, had not the Regent's orders barred their advance. In June, 1775, Bogle found himself once more in Calcutta, where Hastings received him with open arms[1].
So far as trade with Tibet was concerned, nothing but friendly messages and some choice specimens of the products of the country came of an enterprise from which Warren Hastings had hoped so much. Bogle's valuable letters and journals remained in manuscript for a hundred years. His good friend, the Teshu Láma, died in 1780 at Peking, before he had won permission from his Chinese over-lord to open Tibet to foreign trade. Bogle's early death in the following year was another blow to his patron's hopes and purposes. Meanwhile, the friendly intercourse with
- ↑ Gleig, Auber, Clements Markham's Narrative.
