244 MUSEUM OF WORKS IX BUTTER ! 



the cold. The first process is thoroughly to knead 

 the butter, so as to render it firm. When the 

 material is thus prepared, the various portions of 

 the butter- work are confided to various artists, 

 who, however, all alike work under the direction 

 of a principal, who has furnished the plan of the 

 flowers for the year, and has the general superin- 

 tendence of their production. The figures, <fec., 

 being prepared and put together, are then con- 

 fided to another set of artists, who colour them, 

 under the direction of the same leader." What a 

 curious and comical idea a museum of works in 

 butter ! 



M. Hue proceeds thus to describe what he saw 

 when the period for the grand spectacle arrived: 



" On the eve of the festival, the arrival of 

 strangers became perfectly amazing. In every 

 direction you heard the cries of the camels and the 

 bellowing of the long-haired oxen on which the 

 pilgrims had journeyed thither. On the slopes of 

 the mountain overlooking the Lamasery arose 

 numerous tents, wherein were encamped such of 

 the visitors as had not found accommodation in 

 the dwellings of the lamas. Throughout the 14th, 

 the number of persons who performed the pil- 

 grimage around the Lamasery was immense. It 

 was for us a strange and painful sight to view that 

 great crowd of human beings prostrating them- 



