LAMAS AT KUMBUM. 



157 



might pick up some valuable hints were he to turn 

 his attention seriously to the Tibetan and Mongolian 

 practice. 



Tibetan Lama-Physician (from a Photograph lent by Baron Osten Sacken). 



In former times 7,000 lamas lived at Kumbum, 

 but their number is much diminished since the tem- 

 ple was despoiled by the Dungans, who, however, 

 spared the principal shrine with the sacred tree. 

 Such is the fame of the place that it will doubtless 

 soon be restored. 



On leaving our camp to the north-west of Koko- 

 nor our route lay first along the northern and then 

 along the western shore of the lake. After fording 

 a few small streams, we soon approached the largest 

 of its affluents — the Pouhain-gol, which, as the 



