THE " FEAST OF FLOWERS." 243 



day of the first month. M. Hue and his com- 

 panions were installed at Kounboum ten days 

 previous, and watched the numerous caravans of 

 pilgrims arriving hy every road that led to the 

 Lamasery. The festival was in every one's mouth; 

 the flowers, it was said, were that year of surpass- 

 ing beauty; the Council of the Fine Arts, who had 

 examined them, had declared them to be far supe- 

 rior to those of preceding years. 



Eager to behold these marvellous flowers, the 

 strangers hastened, as may be readily supposed, to 

 seek information respecting a festival so entirely 

 unknown. The following details were furnished 

 them on this curious ceremony : 



" The flowers of the 15th of the first moon consist 

 of representations, secular and religious, in which 

 all the Asiatic nations are introduced, with their 

 peculiar physiognomies and their distinguishing- 

 costumes. Persons, places, apparel, decorations 

 all are formed of fresh butter ! Three months are 

 occupied in the preparations for this singular spec- 

 tacle. Twenty lamas, selected from among the 

 most celebrated artists of the Lamasery, are daily 

 engaged in these butter-works, keeping their hands 

 all the while in water, lest the heat of the fingers 

 should disfigure their productions. As these la- 

 bours take place chiefly in the depth of the winter, 



the operators have much suffering to endure from 

 352; 16 



