252 THE PROMISED LAND OF ^ SHAMBALING.' 



make the Buddhist faith supreme in all countries 

 submitted to his rule. 



This Gigen even now pays secret visits to Sham- 

 baling. For this purpose he has a wonderful horse, 

 who is always saddled, and ready to take his rider 

 in one night from Tibet to the promised land and 

 back again. These journeys became known to the 

 common people quite by accident. 



The Gigen had a servant who one night wishing 

 to visit his home clandestinely took his master's 

 sacred steed. The miraculous animal sped like an 

 arrow from the bow into the distance. After a few 

 hours' ride trees began to appear, then lakes and 

 rivers, which do not exist in the servant's country ; 

 at length the frightened rider turned his horse's head 

 back. In doing this he broke off a branch of a tree 

 to whip the horse in case he should tire ; but this 

 never happened, and towards dawn the servant 

 again returned to the temple, wiped the horse down, 

 and led him back to his stable. 



Meanwhile the saint awoke, and at once knew 

 what had occurred. Summoning his servant, he 

 asked him whither he had ridden that night. 

 Thus unexpectedly detected, the servant did not 

 attempt to deny what he had done, but declared 

 that he himself did not know where he had been. 

 Then said the saint, ' Thou hast ridden nearly as 

 far as the happy land of Shambaling, whither my 

 horse knows the road, and no other. Show me the 

 branch thou hast brought back with thee ; behold, 

 there are no such trees as this in Tibet, they grow 

 not far from Shambaling.' 



