pray.--"Oh," said he, "the thing was easy enough. They
gave me an old book; I held it on my knees, and mumbling out some
gibberish between my lips, endeavoured to catch the tone of my
neighbours. When they turned over a leaf, I turned over a leaf; so that,
altogether, there was no reason why the leader of the chorus should take
any notice of my manoeuvre.

"One day, however, a circumstance occurred that very nearly occasioned my
expulsion from the Lamasery. An ill-natured Lama, who had remarked my
method of reciting the prayers, used to amuse himself with mocking me,
and creating a laugh at my expense. When the Emperor's mother died, we
were all invited to the _Yellow Palace_ to recite prayers. Before the
ceremony commenced, I was sitting quietly in my place, with my book on my
knees, when this roguish fellow came gently behind me, and looking over
my shoulder mumbled out something or other in imitation of my manner.
Losing all self-possession, I gave him so hard a blow upon the face, that
he fell on his back. The incident excited great confusion in the _Yellow
Palace_. The superiors were informed of the matter, and by the severe
rules of Thibetian discipline, I was liable to be flogged for three days
with the black whip, and then, my hands and feet in irons, to be
imprisoned for a year in the tower of the Lamasery. One of the
principals, however, who had taken notice of me before, interposed in my
favour. He went to the Lamas who constituted the council of discipline,
and represented to them the fact that the disciple who had been struck
was a person notorious for annoying his companions, and that I had
received extreme provocation from him. He spoke so warmly in my favour
that I was pardoned on the mere condition of making an apology. I
accordingly placed myself in the way of the Lama whom I had offended:
'Brother,' said I, 'shall we go and drink a cup of tea together?'
'Certainly,' replied he; 'there is no reason why I should not drink a cup
of tea with you.' We went out, and entered the first tea-house that
presented itself. Seating ourselves at one of the tables in the
tea-room, I offered my snuff bottle to my companion, saying: 'Elder
brother, the other day we had a little disagreement; that was not well.
You must confess that you were not altogether free from blame. I, on my
part, admit that I dealt too heavy a blow. But the matter has grown old;
we will think no more about it.' We then drank our t