he journey, and that we had no
desire whatever to arrive at Lha-Ssa with the character of being thieves.
And in order that he might labour under no sort of misconception as to
our feelings, we added, that unless he forthwith removed the jars from
our tent, we should instantly proceed and give information of the
circumstance to the proprietor. He seemed somewhat shaken by this
intimation, and in order effectually to induce him to restitution, we
advised him to carry what he had "found" to the ambassador, and request
him to return it to the owner. The Tchanak-Kampo, we said, would not
fail to be affected by his probity, and even if he did not give him a
reward in hand, would bear him in mind, and when we reached Lha-Ssa would
doubtless benefit him in some way. After an animated opposition, this
advice was adopted. Charadchambeul presented himself before the
Tchanak-Kampo, who said to him, on receiving the jars: "Thou art a good
Lama. A Lama who has justice in his heart, is acceptable to the
spirits." Charadchambeul returned perfectly furious, vehemently
exclaiming that we had induced him to commit an imbecility in giving up
the jars to the ambassador, who had presented him with nothing in return
but empty words. From that moment he vowed an implacable hatred towards
us. He did his work how and when he pleased; he took a delight in
wasting our provisions; every day he loaded us with abuse, and in his
rage often turning upon the poor animals, he would beat them about the
head till he had half killed them. To discharge the wretch there, amid
the desert, was impossible. We were fain therefore to arm ourselves with
patience and resignation, and to avoid irritating still more the man's
untamed ferocity.

Five days after the passage of the Pouhain-Gol, we reached Toulain-Gol, a
narrow, shallow river, which we crossed without any difficulty. The
caravan halted shortly afterwards near a Lamasery, which had the
appearance of former prosperity, but which was, at present, wholly
deserted. The temples and the Lamas cells, all tumbling in pieces, had
become the abode of bats and of enormous rats. We heard that this
Buddhist monastery, after having been besieged for three days by the
brigands, had been taken by them, the greater portion of the inmates
massacred, and the place itself plundered and demolished. From that time
forth, no Lama had ventured to settle in the spot. The vicinity,
however, was not so entirely uninha