At length the 7th of December, the day of our departure from Desheripgay, arrived. The Lama sent to me to know whether I chose to accompany him, or to go on before, as he had heard we were fond of riding fast, and it might be irksome travelling in his slow way. This question arose, I believe, from the race I had run with Purungir upon the road. There was nothing ill-natured in it. I returned him for answer that I wished to attend his stirrup.

We were wakened long before day, and before sunrise the Lama set out on his journey. The road was covered with cloth from his apartments to the steps by which he was to get on horseback. He was dressed, as usual, in a yellow broad cloth jacket without sleeves. When he came to the steps he pulled off his cap, and his sopon put on him one lined with fur, together with a black silk flap with fringes to keep off the sun's rays. He then got upon horseback, and a yellow satin cloak lined with far was thrown over him. Two men held his horse's head and two others his saddle. The Lama once got a fall, and is a very timorous rider.

The sun was not yet up and the cold was excessive. I thought I should have lost my fingers. When we had gone about half a mile the people gave three hurrahs, at each of which we turned our horses' heads towards the palace.