sa. In your country
of France, do they not treat strangers well?" "They treat them
excellently. Oh, if you could but go there some day, you would see how
our Emperor would receive you." "Strangers are guests; you must leave
your present abode; I have ordered a suitable lodging to be prepared for
you in one of my houses." We accepted this generous offer with grateful
thanks. To be lodged comfortably and free of expense was not a thing for
men in our position to despise; but we appreciated, above all, the
advantage of residing in one of the Regent's own houses. So signal a
favour, such emphatic protection, on the part of the Thibetian
authorities, could not but give us with the inhabitants of Lha-Ssa great
moral influence, and facilitate our apostolic mission.

On leaving the palace, we proceeded, without loss of time, to visit the
house which had been assigned to us; it was superb--charming. The same
evening we effected our removal, and took possession of our new dwelling.

Our first care was to erect in our house a small chapel. We selected the
largest and best apartment; we papered it as neatly as possible, and we
then adorned it with holy images. Oh! how our hearts flowed with joy,
when we were at length allowed to pray publicly at the foot of the cross,
in the very heart of the capital of Buddhism, which, perhaps, had never
before beheld the sign of our redemption. What a comfort to us to be
able, at length, to announce the words of life to the ears of these poor
people, sitting for so many ages in the shadow of death. This little
chapel was certainly poor, but it was to our minds that hundredfold which
God has promised to those who renounce all things for his service. Our
hearts were so full, that we thought we had cheaply bought the happiness
we now enjoyed, by two years of suffering and tribulation in the desert.

Every one at Lha-Ssa visited the chapel of the French Lamas; many, after
satisfying themselves with asking us a few explanations as to the meaning
of the images they beheld, went away, putting off till some other time
further instruction in the holy doctrine of Jehovah; but several felt
inwardly struck, and seemed to attach a great importance to the study of
the truths we had come to announce. Every day they came to us regularly,
they read with attention the summary of the Christian religion, which we
had composed at the Lamasery of Kounboum, and entreated us to tell them
the "true prayers