298 STRONG FAST. 



" A change came o'er the spirit of the dream," 

 for towards evening I began to feel exceedingly 

 hungry, and urged Walderheros to prepare me 

 something to eat, as not only had bread, honey, 

 butter, onions, and, in fact, everything required to 

 make a sumptuous repast, been sent from the palace, 

 but a sheep also. I soon learnt that the reluctance 

 on this occasion shewn by my servant to do as I 

 desired him was, that the present time being a strict 

 fast, the monks would not allow their place to be 

 desecrated by anything like food being cooked in it. 

 Not relishing the poor fare which, it seems, they 

 are restricted to during this fast of fourteen days, I 

 sent Walderheros to the palace requesting an in- 

 dulgence ; and in about half an hour he came back, 

 bringing with him Gooclaloo, who had remained 

 outside all this time with the crowd of retainers 

 and servants, who are not allowed the privilege of 

 the entree of the palace. They soon collected my 

 bed-clothes and presents, having intimated to me 

 that a fresh place had been appointed, where I could 

 have the sheep killed and cook whatever I liked. 



The monks were anxious that I should under- 

 stand that it was public principle alone that 

 occasioned their apparent inhospitality, and I 

 readily excused it ; for they could not have con- 

 sistently enforced a strict observance of the fast 

 among the household of the Negoos, and yet have 

 allowed animals to have been slaughtered in their 

 presence, and flesh meat cooked under their roof. 



