and brigands. Their
memory is full of local anecdotes and traditions; once put them on the
track, and they will go on with an interminable series of tales and
legends.

One day, while our camels were tranquilly browsing some thorny shrubs in
the depths of the valley, we sought an asylum from the north wind in a
small tent, whence issued a thick smoke. We found in it an old man who,
knees and hands on the ground, was puffing with all his might at a heap
of argols which he had just placed on the fire. We seated ourselves on a
yak skin. The old man crossed his legs, and held out his hand to us. We
gave him our tea-cups, which he filled with milk tea, saying, "Temouchi"
(drink in peace). He then gazed at us, alternately, with an air of some
anxiety. "_Aka_ (brother)," said we, "this is the first time we have
come to seat ourselves in your tent." "I am old," he replied; "my legs
will scarce sustain me; otherwise, I should have come to Tchogortan to
offer you my khata. According to what the shepherds of the black tents
have told me, you are from the farther Western Heaven." "Yes, our
country is far hence." "Are you from the kingdom of the Samba, or from
that of the Poba?" "From neither; we come from the kingdom of the
French." "Ah, you are Franba? I never before heard of them. 'Tis such
a great place, that West! The kingdoms there are so numerous. But,
after all, it matters not: we are all of the same family, are we not?"
"Yes; assuredly all men are brothers, in whatever kingdom each is born."
"That is true: what you say is founded on reason; all men are brothers.
Yet we know that, under heaven, there exist three great families: we men
of the west are all of the great Thibetian family, as I have heard."
"Aka, do you know whence come the three great families that are beneath
the heaven?" "This is what I have heard about it from Lamas learned in
the things of antiquity. In the beginning, there was on the earth but
one single man; he had neither house nor tent; for in those days, winter
was not cold nor summer hot; the wind did not blow with violence, and
there fell neither rain nor snow; tea grew of itself on the mountains,
and the cattle had nothing to fear from maleficent animals. This man had
three children, who lived a long time with him, feeding upon milk and
fruits. After attaining a very great age, this man died. The three
children consulted what they should do with the body of their father;
they c