SOJOURN AT TSEKOU 



fortune, and retired to a mountain called Suechan, a place of 

 pilgrimage for the Thibetans, where he lived on roots, and in- 

 structed a few disciples in metempsychosis till the time of his death 

 at thirt)-, or, as others say, sixty years of age. He remained 

 unknown to the Chinese until the Han or Tsin dynasty, when, 

 moved by a dream, Minty sent two envoys O and My to seek him. 

 But he was dead ; and the emissaries only brought back his image. 

 It was from the result of this mission that arose the invocation, 

 o Mv TO Fou (o MY living Buddha) ! But his worship was con- 

 fined to a few. Hieutsang sent a fresh embassage to India, which 

 returned with a bone of Fou, whose name in infancy was Mougny 

 (Cakya Mouni). The emperor thereafter decreed that all his 

 prisoners should worship Fou. Most of them escaped. From that 

 time the followers of Fou were condemned to shave their heads and 

 to ring a bell, as a means of identification. Such, according to 

 oral and written tradition, is the origin of the Chinese bonzes. 



Here are some of the Thibetan customs of this region : — 



A visitor is not allowed to cross the threshold till a pipe has 

 been smoked outside, and the new-comer is ascertained to be free 

 from disease. 



Blood brotherhood in Thibet is cemented by blending and then 

 drinking the blood of the contracting parties ; but after this mutual 

 pledge all things are not held in common as in Madagascar. 



When any beasts are lost a wand is with much ceremony held 

 upright on the ground : its fall indicates the direction to be taken 

 in the search. 



In neighbourhoods where there are many panthers, the 

 Thibetans burn scented sticks in a chafing-dish under their animals: 

 this renders them safe from all attack. 



In a case of an unpaid debt where the creditor has no proofs, 



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