FEEDING THE PEOPLE AT POONAKHA, OUTSIDE MY CAMP, AETER THE DURBAR 



We distributed doles to the poor in the neighborhood. More than a thousand turned 

 up, a most quiet and orderly crowd, who waited with the greatest patience each for his turn. 

 I had them marshaled in double lines, sitting on the ground, and Rennick and Campbell 

 passed down the lines, giving each person a four-anna bit. Even the babies were made to 

 hold out their hands, though the parents speedily seized the coin. 



every expression of friendliness by the 

 lama, a brother of the late Shabdung 

 Rimpoche, who invited me to look at 

 everything I wanted and broke open seals 

 on boxes and doors in order to allow me 

 to examine his treasures. I fancy this is 

 the first time any European had been al- 

 lowed to do such a thing, and the treas- 

 ures were worth seeing, especially the old 

 embroidered banners. Even the late Shab- 

 dung's dwelling was opened and I was 

 allowed to enter his private rooms, the 

 greatest honor they could confer on me. 



All we required was provided and ev- 

 erything done for our comfort, and the 

 lama (see page 415) was quite hurt that 

 we were unable to stay longer and accept 

 more of his hospitality. 



The ladies who had entertained me at 

 Ta-lo later came to Poonakha and paid 

 me a visit. After listening to the gramo- 

 phone, with which they were much 

 pleased, they went away, taking with 

 them some silks for themselves and toys 

 for their children. With them came the 

 head of Ta-lo, the Tango Lama, a man 

 about 40, and his younger brother, Nin- 

 ser Talku, about 11 years old. In the 

 evening the lama came back to dine with 

 us, accompanied by the Thimbu Jongpen, 

 but I do not know that on this occasion 

 the dinner itself was an actual success, 

 as the lama was not allowed to eat fowl 

 or mutton, our principal stand-bys, and 

 the Thimbu excused his want of appetite 

 by saying he had already dined. 



414 



