in the Appendix to this volume. Another letter from Desideri is inserted in the 'Bibliotheca Pistoiensis' (p. 185), by Zaccaria. But there is much valuable material from the pen of Desideri still in manuscript which will soon be given to the world, and will be most useful to students of Tibetan history and geography. The manuscript containing the narrative of his journey to and residence in Tibet has recently been examined by Signor Carlo Puini. That learned scholar reports that it is in the library of a private gentleman at Pistoia, and consists of a large folio volume, dated 1727, of about 500 pages closely but very clearly and legibly written. It contains a great abundance of notices respecting the geography of Tibet, and the manners and customs, and religion of the Tibetans. There are two other documents of Desideri in the library of the Congregation of the Propaganda at Kome. The first is another narrative, dated February 17, 1717, soon after his arrival at Lhasa, and addressed to the Pope, and the second is a letter written in autograph by Desideri to the Pope.[1]
Father Desideri also translated the 'Kangiar' of the great reforming Lama, Tsong-khapa, into Latin.
The Capuchin friars had already found their way to Lhasa in the time of Desideri; and we have several letters from their leader. This was Francisco Orazio della Penna, or Pinnabillensis. He was born at Macerata, in Italy, in 1780, became a Capuchin, and was sent to Tibet with twelve of his brethren as missionaries. They reached Lhasa by way of Nepal in 1719, and established a mission which flourished for nearly a quarter
vol. ix. to vol. xxvi. The letter of Desideri is in vol. xv. In 1781 a new edition appeared in twenty-six volumes (bound in twelve), and edited by M. de Querboeuf. Du Halde died in 1743. Mention will be made of his great work on China in another note, at p. lxii.
- ↑ Signor Carlo Puini examined the manuscript at Pistoia on November 19, 1875, and he will be furnished with copies both of it and of the documents at Rome. He will then write an exhaustive paper on Father Desideri and his travels, and eventually he hopes to publish the manruscript itself, with the necessary elucidations. I am indebted to Colonel Yule for this important news respecting the Desideri manuscripts, and their contemplated publication, which ought to be promptly followed by an English edition.
