in whether his knowledge was so profound,
so marvellous, as his partisans pretended; but the reformer refused to
accept the invitation. Representing a religious system which was to
supersede the old system, it was not his business, he considered, to
perform an act of submission.

Meantime the Yellow Caps became, by degrees, the predominant sect, and
the homage of the multitude was turned towards Tsong-Kaba. The Buddha
Chakdja, finding his authority repudiated, made up his mind to go and
visit the little Lama of the province of Amdo, as he contumeliously
designated the reformer. At this interview, he proposed to have a
discussion with his adversary, which he flattered himself would result in
the triumph of the old doctrine. He repaired to the meeting with great
pomp, surrounded with all the attributes of his religious supremacy. As
he entered the modest cell of Tsong-Kaba, his high red cap struck against
the beam of the door, and fell to the ground, an accident which everybody
regarded as a presage of triumph for the Yellow Cap. The reformer was
seated on a cushion, his legs crossed, and apparently took no heed to the
entrance of the Chakdja. He did not rise to receive him, but continued
gravely to tell his beads. The Chakdja, without permitting himself to be
disconcerted either by the fall of his cap, or by the cold reception that
was given him, entered abruptly upon the discussion, by a pompous
eulogium of the old rites, and an enumeration of the privileges which he
claimed under them. Tsong-Kaba, without raising his eyes, interrupted
him in these terms: "Let go, cruel man that thou art, let go the louse
thou art crushing between thy fingers. I hear its cries from where I
sit, and my heart is torn with commiserating grief." The Chakdja, in
point of fact, while vaunting his own virtues, had seized a louse under
his vest, and in contempt of the doctrine of transmigration, which
forbids men to kill anything that has life in it, he was endeavouring to
crack it between his nails. Unprovided with a reply to the severe words
of Tsong-Kaba, he prostrated himself at his feet, and acknowledged his
supremacy.

Thenceforward, the reforms proposed by Tsong-Kaba encountered no
obstacle; they were adopted throughout Thibet, and afterwards became, by
imperceptible degrees, established in all the kingdoms of Tartary. In
1409, Tsong-Kaba, then 52 years old, founded the celebrated monastery of
Kaldan, three leagues from Lha