Amban

Regarding the scene before him with the calmness of a stoic, sits the grey-bearded old Ambân in his chair of state, quietly smoking a long pipe, while beside him kneel his weeping daughters, all conscious of their coming fate.

In 1846 Messrs. Huc and Gabet, two French Lazarist Fathers, visited Lhasa from the north, and stayed two and a half months, when they were expelled through the influence of the Chinese Amban.

Although he was received there by a guard of honour of sorts, Elias found the amban, or senior Chinese official, openly hostile.