Samuel Turner

Account of an Embassy to the Court of the Teshoo Lama in Tibet: Containing a Narrative of a Journey Through Bootan, and a Part of Tibet Samuel Turner

In 1774 the Teshoo Lama, Regent of Tibet and Guardian to the infant Dalai Lama, received a deputation from the Governor of Bengal, headed by Mr George Bogle, with whom the Teshoo Lama was much taken. This warm relationship led in 1779 to an invitation from the Teshoo Lama to join him in Pekin where he was visiting at the solicitation of the Emperor of China. Unfortunately the exciting prospects afforded by this visit were concluded by the untimely deaths through illness of both the Teshoo Lama and George Bogle. Not wishing to forgo the relationship that had been built up, a second deputation was sent to Tibet under the command of Captain Samuel Turner and this is his narrative of that journey and his time in Bootan and Tibet. He provides an extensive report on this fascinating people including his meetings with the reincarnated infant Lama, and sketches of the country are provided by Lieutenant Samuel Davis with observations of botanical, mineralogical and medical nature added by the Surgeon, Mr Robert Saunders.