alk of Kounboum. The Grand
Lamas and students of the medical section proceed thither every year,
towards the close of summer, and remain generally for about a fortnight,
collecting medicinal plants on the surrounding hills. During the
remainder of the year most of the houses are empty, and you scarcely see
a single soul, except a few contemplative Lamas who have hollowed out
cells for themselves in the most rugged declivities of the mountain.

The proposition of the Lamanesque government appeared to us altogether
eligible, for the fine weather was just setting in; winter in town,
spring in the country--this was admirable! Our three months abode at
Kounboum had made us tolerably conversant with Lama manners; we
accordingly purchased a khata and a small dish of raisins, with which we
repaired to the Lama administrator of Tchogortan, who received us in the
most affable manner, and promised at once to give orders for the
preparation of a suitable abode for us. After giving a splendid Feast of
Farewell to old Akaye, the Kitat-Lama, and the Stammerer, we loaded our
camels with our baggage and gaily proceeded on our way to the little
Lamasery.

[Picture: Chapter Tailpiece]

[Picture: Lamasery of Tchogortan]

CHAPTER III.

Aspect of the Lamasery of Tchogortan--Contemplative Lamas--Lama
Herdsmen--The "Book of the Forty-two Points of Instruction, delivered by
Buddha"--Extract from the Chinese Annals, with relation to the preaching
of Buddhism in China--The Black Tents--Manners of the Si-Fan--Long-haired
Oxen--Adventures of a stuffed Karba--Lamanesque Chronicle of the Origin
of Nations--Alimentary Diet--Valuable Discoveries in the Animal
Kingdom--Manufacture of Camel-hair Cord--Frequent visits to
Tchogortan--Classification of Argols--Brigand Anecdote--Elevation of the
Pyramid of Peace--The Faculty of Medicine at Tchogortan--Thibetian
Physicians--Departure for the Blue Sea.

A half hour sufficed for us to effect our removal from Kounboum to
Tchogortan. After skirting for some time the arid sides of a lofty
mountain, we descended into a broad valley, through which flowed a
rivulet, the banks of which were still covered with ice. The place
seemed full of good pasturage, but in consequence of the coldness of the
climate, vegetation is very slow and very late in the locality. Although
it was near the month of May, the nascent germs scarcely as yet coloured
the surface of