508 Mr. S. Davis on the Religious and Social 



stained papers, worsted of various colours wound upon frames, and other 

 showy articles, the whole erected upon a frame of timber which had under 

 it four clumsy wheels or rollers. The lower part was decorated with an 

 abundance of ornaments and images of the deities, arranged in the manner 

 of an altar, before which were placed upon the ground some larger figures 

 moulded in clay, and painted to represent the deceased Lama, the Rajah, his 

 dewan, and some of Iiis principal attendants. When the fabric was com- 

 pleted, a large tent was pitched in its front, of a size to contain more than 

 four hundred gylongs, who marched out of the palace to officiate therein. 

 A small pavilion was built for the Rajah behind the pyramid, in a square 

 inclosure of young trees. One wiiole night and part of the next day was 

 spent in prayer, and in sounding the religious horns and drums. When 

 tliis was ended, the gylongs moved away to a small island to bathe, leaving 

 the pyramid to be disposed of by the throng of spectators, who, after many 

 ineffectual attempts to drag it close to the river-side, which was impossible 

 from the clumsiness of the wheels, fell upon it with enthusiastic fury, 

 pulled it to pieces, and threw the fragments into the stream, the Rajah 

 himself remaining upon the spot until the work of destruction was com-' 

 pleted. 



Tlie same person directed that his image should, after his decease, be 

 deposited in thq hermitage upon the mountain, and it was accordingly 

 carried in procession, placed on a sort of bier supported by four priests, and 

 attended by others chanting prayers, with musical instruments, perfumes, 

 and torches. 



Some time after the above transactions, and on one of the bathing days, 

 a ceremonial was performed upon the bank of the river, which had the 

 appearance of being an offering to the stream. The approach of the priests 

 from the castle was announced by three musicians who preceded the line. 

 One of these beat upon the cymbal, another had an instrument like a 

 hautboy, and the third a tabret or drum. In front came Lam-keb, before 

 whom was carried a chalice with perfumes, and about twenty of those 

 following next in order carried, each of them, something concealed under a 

 covering of embroidery and silks of various showy colours, and they had all 

 white handkerchiefs tied round their mouths. Next came the usual number 

 of gylongs, amounting to upwards of four hundred, the youngest bringing 

 up the rear. They passed the bridge and sat down in a throng upon the 

 grass under the willows, on that side the river opposite our dwelling, with 



