enter without ceremony, seat themselves, and while
the tea is preparing for their refreshment, give their hosts an account
of the places they have visited in their rambles. If they think fit to
sleep where they are, they stretch themselves on the floor and repose
until the morning. After breakfast, they stand at the entrance of the
tent, and watch the clouds for a while, and see whence the wind blows;
then they take their way, no matter whither, by this path or that, east
or west, north or south, as their fancy or a smoother turf suggests, and
lounge tranquilly on, sure at least, if no other shelter presents itself
by-and-by, of the shelter of the cover, as they express it, of that great
tent, the world; and sure, moreover, having no destination before them,
never to lose their way.

[Picture: Vagabond Lamas]

The wandering Lamas visit all the countries readily accessible to
them:--China, Mantchouria, the Khalkhas, the various kingdoms of Southern
Mongolia, the Ourianghai, the Koukou-Noor, the northern and southern
slopes of the Celestial Mountains, Thibet, India, and sometimes even
Turkestan. There is no stream which they have not crossed, no mountains
they have not climbed, no Grand Lama before whom they have not prostrated
themselves, no people with whom they have not associated, and whose
customs and language are unknown to them. Travelling without any end in
view, the places they reach are always those they sought. The story of
the Wandering Jew, who is for ever a wanderer, is exactly realised in
these Lamas. They seem influenced by some secret power, which makes them
wander unceasingly from place to place. God seems to have infused into
the blood which flows in their veins, something of that motive power
which propels them on their way, without allowing them to stop.

The Lamas living in community are those who compose the third class. A
Lamasery is a collection of small houses built around one or more Buddhic
temples. These dwellings are more or less large and beautiful, according
to the means of the proprietor. The Lamas who live thus in community,
are generally more regular than the others; they pay more attention to
prayer and study. They are allowed to keep a few animals; some cows to
afford them milk and butter, the principal materials of their daily food;
horses; and some sheep to be killed on festivals.

Generally speaking, the Lamaseries have endowments, either royal o