62 A -tun-tsi 
committing himself, and nobody ever does anything unless he 
has a majority behind him. Genius branching out on its 
own responsibility, if it ever occurs, is severely frowned 
down ; there is no room for sentiment. This communistic 
principle in village life is so frankly at variance with the 
one-man autocracy of higher administration that it would 
be surprising in so practical a people, did one not realise 
that inconsistency is characteristic of the nation. Each 
rank is consistent with itself and that is all that can be 
said. Nevertheless this practice enables the villagers to 
suggest simple remedies for all evils, and inculcates in them 
a great capacity for managing their own affairs without 
falling back upon authority in the shape of the nearest 
mandarin. 
Here is an example from A-tun-tsi. 
One of several treasurers for the sum of Taels 1400 
(about 4180) subscribed by the Mohammedans for the 
purpose of building a mosque showed a defalcation of 
Taels 300 when the time came for the money to be pro- 
duced, and the brotherhood of local merchants, instead of 
appealing to the mandarins, of whom there were two on 
the spot, thrashed the matter out among themselves. All 
day they sat in conclave, smoking and talking together, 
and at the end of the day, having examined the defaulter 
and several witnesses, they unanimously decided that the 
money must be paid back by monthly instalments as soon 
as possible, the merchant’s furniture and effects being suffi- 
cient surety for him. Thus his peers were witness, judge, 
and jury. 
The Tibetan festival itself seemed more in accord with 
the usages of /Va¢ propitiation than with Lamaism, except 
that it was eminently cheerful, and the people, led by their 
priests, went to the summits of the three nearest hills to 
east, north, and west in turn, in order to burn incense and 
pray ; after which they ate cakes. The first day however 
was devoted entirely to the amusement of the children, 
for Tibetan mothers, as I frequently observed, are warm- 
hearted creatures with a great affection for their offspring. 
Dressed in their best frocks, and wearing all the family 
jewels brought out for the occasion, they went up into the 
woods in the afternoon, picked bunches of flowers just as 
