d imposing aspect.

At the entrance of the town, some Mongols with whom we had formed an
acquaintance on the road, and who had preceded us by several days, met
us, and invited us to accompany them to lodgings which they had been
friendly enough to prepare for us. It was now the 29th January, 1846;
and it was eighteen months since we had parted from the Valley of Black
Waters.

[Picture: Chinese and Tartar male head-dresses]

[Picture: View of Lha-Ssa]

CHAPTER V.

Lodgings in a Thibetian House--Appearance of Lha-Ssa--Palace of the
Tale-Lama--Picture of the Thibetians--Monstrous Toilet of the
Women--Industrial and Agricultural productions of Thibet--Gold and Silver
Mines--Foreigners resident at Lha-Ssa--The Pebouns--The Katchis--The
Chinese--Position of the relations between China and Thibet--Various
speculations of the public respecting us--We present ourselves to the
Authorities--Form of the Thibetian Govermnent--Grand Lama of
Djachi-Loumbo--Society of the Kalons--Thibetian Prophecy--Tragical Death
of three Tale-Lamas--Account of Ki-Chan--Condemnation of the
Nomekhan--Revolt of the Lamasery of Sera.

After eighteen months struggle with sufferings and obstacles of infinite
number and variety, we were at length arrived at the termination of our
journey, though not at the close of our miseries. We had no longer, it
is true, to fear death from famine or frost in this inhabited country;
but trials and tribulations of a different character were, no doubt,
about to assail us, amidst the infidel populations, to whom we desired to
preach Christ crucified for the salvation of mankind. Physical troubles
over, we had now to undergo moral sufferings; but we relied, as before,
on the infinite goodness of the Lord to aid us in the fight, trusting
that He who had protected us in the desert against the inclemency of the
seasons, would continue to us His divine assistance against the malice of
man, in the very heart and capital of Buddhism.

The morning after our arrival at Lha-Ssa, we engaged a Thibetian guide,
and visited the various quarters of the city, in search of a lodging.
The houses at Lha-Ssa are for the most part several stories high,
terminating in a terrace slightly sloped, in order to carry off the
water; they are whitewashed all over, except the bordering round the
doors and windows, which are painted red or yellow. The reformed
Buddhists are so fond of these two co