itous descent. The men descended, now
backwards, as down a ladder, now seated, and letting themselves slide
down the snow; every one extricated himself victoriously from this
dangerous position, and arrived at the bottom, without breaking or
bruising arms or legs.

We still went on five lis more, in a narrow valley, and then perceived,
at the foot of a high mountain, a large collection of houses, amongst
which rose two Buddhic temples of colossal proportions. This was the
station of Ghiamda. A little before reaching the town, we found on the
road, a company of eighteen soldiers, drawn up in file, and having at
their head two petty Mandarins, decorated with the white button.
Mandarins and soldiers had their sabres drawn and their bows in their
shoulder-belts. It was the garrison of Ghiamda, which, under arms and in
full uniform, awaited Ly, the pacificator of kingdoms, to pay him
military honours. When the caravan had come within proper proximity, the
eighteen soldiers and the two Mandarins fell on their knees, turning the
points of their sabres to the ground, and crying out with one voice, "To
the Tou-Sse, Ly-Kouo-Ngan, the humble garrison of Ghiamda wishes health
and prosperity." At these words, Ly-Kouo-Ngan, and the soldiers of his
suite, stopped their horses, dismounted, and ran to the garrison, to
invite them to rise. On both sides there was an infinity of bowing,
during which we quietly continued our journey. On entering the town, we
had, in our turn, our little official reception. Two Thibetians, in
holiday attire, seized, to do us honour, the bridles of our horses, and
conducted us to the house which had been prepared for our reception.
There the Dheba, or chief magistrate of the district, awaited us; he
offered us a scarf of blessings, and led us into an apartment where was a
table already laid out with tea, butter, cakes, and dried fruits. In all
these marks of friendship and attention, we could not help discerning the
effect of orders forwarded by the Regent. Whilst we were doing honour to
this modest collation we were informed that we should be obliged to stop
two days at Ghiamda, because the Dheba of the district, having received
only that morning the announcement of our approaching arrival, had not
had time to send for the animals, which were grazing, at a great distance
from the town. This news was very welcome to us; but it plunged
Ly-Kouo-Ngan and the Lama Dsiamdchang into despair. We essayed