le, sheep,
and horses. On their way they passed through the country of the
Khalkhas, where they stayed for some time in the Lamasery of the Great
Kouren, the offerings of the Tartar pilgrims flowing in abundantly.
Hence, they turned south, to Peking, where they converted into gold and
silver the innumerable animals which they had collected together from all
parts. After an extended residence in the capital of the Chinese empire,
they resumed their operations in the deserts of Tartary, and still
seeking subscriptions, and still receiving them, arrived at Kounboum. In
this famous and sainted Lamasery, capable of appreciating the merit of
good Lamas, the zeal and devotion of the celebrated questors attained a
colossal reputation; they became the objects of the public veneration,
and the professors, who aimed at perfection in their pupils, proposed to
them these five men as models.

Altere-Lama, after three years of so meritorious a quest, now only sighed
for the hour when he should return to Lha-Ssa and consecrate to the
construction of his temple all the rich offerings he had succeeded in
collecting. Great, therefore, was his joy, when he heard the
intelligence that the Thibetian embassy was at hand. He resolved to
avail himself of its escort, on its return from Peking, so as securely to
convey his gold and his silver through the dangerous district of the
Kolo. Meanwhile, he announced, he would apply all his attention to the
preparations required for this important journey.

But, alas! the projects of men are often frustrated at the very moment
when they seem on the point of succeeding in the most triumphant manner.
One fine day there arrived at Si-Ning-Fou an imperial courier
extraordinary, bearing dispatches by which the Grand Mandarin of that
town was ordered to arrange with the superior of the Lamasery of
Kounboum, for the immediate arrest of Altere-Lama, charged with having,
during the past three years, committed the most comprehensive swindling,
by means of certain letters of recommendation, falsely attributed to the
Tale-Lama. The orders of his imperial majesty were executed. One may
easily imagine the stupifaction, on the occasion, of the poor
Altere-Lama, and especially of his four disciples, who throughout the
affair, had acted with the most entire good faith. The very embassy, on
the protection of which Altere-Lama had so relied, was directed by the
Thibetian government to take charge of the Grand Que