the unlimited, uninterrupted chain of successive lives--a
regular palingenesis. While the saint is in a state of chrysalis, his
disciples are in the greatest anxiety; for it is their most important
affair to discover the place where their master will resume life. A
rainbow appearing in the air is considered a signal sent to them by their
old Great Lama to aid them in their research. Everyone thereupon says
his prayers, and while the Lamasery which has lost its Buddha redoubles
its fastings and prayers, a troop of elect proceeds to consult the
Tchurtchun or augur, famous for the knowledge of things hidden from the
common herd. He is informed that on such a day of such a moon the
rainbow of the Chaberon has manifested itself on the sky; it made its
appearance in such a place; it was more or less luminous, and it was
visible so long; then it disappeared amid such and such circumstances.
When the Tchurtchun has received all the necessary indications, he
recites some prayers, opens his books of divination, and pronounces at
last his oracle, while the Tartars who have come to consult him, listen,
kneeling and full of unction. "Your Great Lama," says he, "has
reappeared in Thibet, at such a distance from your Lamasery. You will
find him in such a family." When these poor Mongols have heard this
oracle, they return full of joy to announce the glad tidings to their
Lamasery.

It often happens that the disciples of the defunct have no occasion to
trouble themselves at all in order to discover the new birth-place of
their Great Lama. He himself takes the trouble to initiate them into the
secret of his transformation. As soon as he has effected his
metamorphosis in Thibet, he reveals himself at an age when common
children cannot yet articulate a single word. "It is I," he says with
the accent of authority; "it is I who am the Great Lama, the living
Buddha of such a temple; conduct me to my ancient Lamasery. I am its
immortal superior." The wonderful baby having thus spoken, it is
speedily communicated to the Lamas of the Soume indicated, that their
Chaberon is born in such a place, and they are summoned to attend and
invite him home.

In whatever manner the Tartars discover the residence of their Great
Lama, whether by the appearance of the rainbow, or by the spontaneous
revelation of the Chaberon himself, they are always full of intense joy
on the occasion. Soon all is movement in the tents, and the thousand
prepar