FROM TALI TO TSEKOU 



and little, placed themselves one behind the other, accordino- to 

 size, each holding on to the skirts of the one in front of him. 

 One was left out, who made dashes at this string as it revolved 

 rapidly, like the spoke of a wheel. The game consisted in the 

 single Lama trying to catch the man at the tail, without being 

 himself caught by the one at the head. 



The fire sinking low, the fete concluded with a concert of 

 ear-piercing whistles, which each produced by putting his fingers 

 to his mouth. Spying a woman at a little distance, a spectator 

 of these games, I asked our host if the Lamas married — 

 "Oh, never!" "Then there are none but Lamas here ."^ " — 

 "Assuredly." "But I saw a woman." — Embarrassment of my 

 interlocutor; he reflected a moment — "Probably," said he, "some 

 female who came to take a walk here. But," added he, "don't 

 repeat it ; it would never do to say that the Lamas were married." 

 In reply to interrogations about Lha^a, my Lama said he had 

 been there four times, and gave us particulars as to the route. 



The following morning we were able to examine the temple 

 near which we had passed the night, and of which, in the dusk, 

 we had only distinguished the outline. It was a white rectangular 

 building, with some resemblance to a Chinese pagoda. Outside 

 appeared, in conspicuous iteration, the invocation cut on stone — 



OM MANE PEDMI HOUM.^ 



Around it were grouped several smaller structures, surmounted 

 by diminutive towers, with medallions of gods in terra - cotta, 

 horns, and inscribed bones ; while in front stood posts from 



' " Adoration to the Jewel in the Lotus, Amen I " The Shadakshara Mantra, or 

 " si.\-syllabled charm," with a combined sense of praise and prayer ; regarded by 

 the Lamas with deep reverence as containing an unfathomable doctrine. — Tk.\ns. 



207 



