ut makes no way to my heart. That which moves, that which afflicts me,
is the thought that when thou left us, fourteen years ago, to visit the
Land of Saints, thou wert clothed in the sacred habit of the Lamas, and
that now thou art a layman and a buffoon.' These words confounded me.
After a moment's silence I rose and cried emphatically: 'It is written in
the Holy Doctrine, that it is better to honour one's father and mother
than to serve the spirits of heaven and earth. Therefore, mother, say
what you would have me do, and your son will reverentially obey you.'
'Throw aside those mundane clothes,' said my mother, 'cut off that tress
of hair, and re-enter the family of the saints.' I had nothing to say in
reply, but prostrated myself thrice on the ground, in token of
submission. When a mother speaks, one must obey; filial piety is the
basis of all good doctrine. In translating for you the ten great
commandments of Jehovah, I remember that the fourth said: 'Thou shalt
honour thy father and thy mother.'

"Next morning I resumed my Lama dress, and a few days after proceeded to
Kounboum, where I am labouring to sanctify myself."

These last words of Sandara the Bearded clearly merited to be received
with a horse laugh, but we restrained ourselves by dint of biting our
lips, for we had experienced that, notwithstanding his immense zeal for
sanctification, our worthy tutor had not as yet attained any very great
results in the matter of patience and mildness.

This summary of the adventures of Sandara, at once explained to us how it
was that upon all occasions he manifested such marked predilection for
the men and things of China. The rules bequeathed by Tsong-Kaba
interdicted to the Lamas the use of garlic, brandy, and tobacco; garlic
being prohibited because it is unbecoming to present one's self before
the image of Buddha with bad breath, offensive in itself, and capable of
infecting the perfume of the incense; brandy, because this fatal liquor
disturbs the reason and excites the passions; and tobacco, because it
engenders idleness, and absorbs precious hours that ought to be devoted
to the study of prayers and of doctrine. Despite these prohibitions, so
soundly based, the Lamas--such of them, at least, as sanctify themselves
after the manner of Sandara--do not hesitate to smoke, to drink, and to
season their oatmeal with garlic. All this, however, is done secretly,
and without the knowledge of the police. In th