532 Journal of a trip to Sikim. [May, 



of public worship. At the head of each bench is a raised square otto- 

 man covered with leopard skin, for two of the higher Lamas, or for 

 the officiating ones, as may be. These benches were the only things in 

 the Goomba which the Lamas were particular about not being touched 

 by our followers. 



The western end of the temple is occupied by a range of 1 1 large 

 images. The principal one, about twice the natural size of a man^ 

 occupies the centre. It is named " Chomden Day,"* which means 

 " God ;" it is in the sitting posture, cross-legged, with the right hand 

 resting on the right knee. In the left is a black bowl, said to be for 

 food. On the right and left of the great image is a tonsured Lama, or 

 Chela, standing each with a black bowl in hand, and said to contain 

 food for the deity. The right hand one is named kungan, the left 

 mangah. These images are flanked on either side by 4 handsome images 

 holding flowers in their hands, and said to be attendant satellites from 

 India ; " Gyagur" is the Thibetan for India, " Gynak" for China. All 

 these 11 images are gilded and 10 are standing erect. In the wall behind 

 them, the sun and moon are painted, the former on the right of the 

 centre image, the latter on the left. 



The whole of the inner walls from the ceiling to 2 feet from the 

 ground are painted with figures. On the right of the entrance door 

 are 3 very good figures. The centre one represents the 3rd Raja of 

 Sikim, who was also the Pontiff of his own kingdom, and who bestowed 

 his daughter in marriage on a Lama of Sunoon Goomba, the monks of 

 which were privileged to marry, and whose descendants are still at 

 Dobtah in Thibet enjoying the same immunity from celibacy. 



On the left of the Raja is his daughter — a young and captivating dam- 

 sel, in a broad-brimmed Chinese hat ; on his right is the reverned Lama 

 the favored spouse of the lady. The " Lama Raja," which is equivalent 

 in Sikim to " Sovereign Pontiff," and his fair daughter are very excellent 

 paintings. 



On the south wall to the right of the images is a large red painting 

 of an 8-handed Shiva trampling with the right foot on two white 

 human beings ; with the left on one black, and one yellow human 

 figure. This large Shiva is surrounded by 8 smaller ones, and beyond 

 these are innumerable Lamas sitting cross-legged, some dressed in red 

 * Chomden Das is Sakya Singha. — De Coros. 





