3-053-558 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Buddhist priests at Darjeeling, Himalayas, 1873. Engraving from a photograph by Mr. B. Phillips. Lamas at the Buddhist temple, '...known by the name of "Sunga Seedoupling Goomba"...In their hands may be seen the instruments used by them in their religious ceremonies. The head priest, officiating, seated on the left, is named Cho Bombo Lama. He wears the sacred hat (uche pesha) and his under-garment of cloth-of-gold (tongha), with the holy beads (tinghah)...The peculiarly-shaped outer garment, without sleeves, which is worn by nearly all, is called saine. In front of him are three instruments of their ritual, the small tum-tum (dhuru), the brass sanctifying instrument (doorchee), and the bell (tibbu). Next him is seated the second priest (Cho Chutumba Lima), in whose hands are the cymbals and a short horn. In the centre of the group is a student, who is under instruction to become a Lama. Before him are the sacred writings (kunju); they consist of single sheets of paper printed on both sides, and usually kept together between carved covers...Standing in the verandah are two travelling Lamas (Dupcheeng), natives of Lassa, in Thibet; one wears a peculiar cap with a peak of hair (tomrah). In the verandah, on the left, is the large praying-wheel'. From "Illustrated London News", 1873.