112 A MODERN REHOBOAM AND HIS CAPITAL 



properly studied the subject, and relying solely on 

 what I heard. 



At the time of our visit the lamas were very 

 uneasy, and more hostile than usual to the Christian 

 religion. The following legend in their books 

 of prophecy accounted for it : 



When Gautama, the historic Buddha, was on 

 earth, another Buddha arose whose name was Ever- 

 lasting Love. They met, and a dispute arose as to 

 which was the real Buddha, each maintaining his 

 claim, and stigmatising his opponent as an impostor. 

 At length they decided on the following test. Each 

 was to procure a pot, and fill it with earth. They 

 were then to retire to rest. A flower growing in 

 the mould was to be a sign that the owner of the 

 pot was the genuine Buddha. He was to remain 

 on earth and diffuse his religion, whilst his adver- 

 sary was to depart and leave him in peace. 



Gautama, so the story goes, being rather appre- 

 hensive as to the result, got up in the night to see 

 how things were going. To his disgust, he found 

 that while his own pot remained in exactly the 

 same condition as that in which he had left it when 

 he retired, from that of his rival a beautiful flower 

 was beginning to sprout. 



He accordingly quietly transferred the contents 

 of his own pot to that of Everlasting Love, and 

 substituted the flower in their place. He then 

 sneaked back to bed, anticipating triumph in the 

 morning. He awoke to find Everlasting Love 

 quietly contemplating the two pots. 



Gautama pointed triumphantly to his own, 

 exclaiming, < See ! there is the flower. I am the 

 true Buddha ! " His rival regarded him sternly, 



