l the necessary preparations, according to the Chinese rites, for
conveying the body of their Mandarin to his family. We will not enter
here into the details of what was done in this matter, for whatever
concerns the manners and customs and ceremonies of the Chinese, will find
a place elsewhere. We will merely say that the defunct was enveloped in
a large white pall, which had been given him by the Living Buddha of
Djachi-Loumbo, and which was covered with Thibetian sentences, and with
images of Buddha, printed in black.

The Thibetians, and other Buddhists, have unlimited confidence in the
printed winding-sheets which are distributed by the Tale-Lama and the
Bandchan-Remboutchi. They are persuaded that those who are fortunate
enough to be buried in them, cannot fail to have a happy transmigration.

By the demise of Ly-Kouo-Ngan, the caravan found itself without a leader
and without a guide. There was, to be sure, the Lama Dsiamdchang, to
whom the power should have fallen by right, and by legitimate succession;
but the Chinese soldiers being very little disposed to acknowledge his
authority, we passed from the monarchic state to the republican,
democratical form. This state of things lasted at most half-a-day.
Perceiving that the men of the caravan, both Thibetians and Chinese, were
not yet prepared for so perfect a government, and considering that
anarchy was developing itself in every direction, and that matters
threatened to go to rack and ruin, consulting only the public interest
and the safety of the caravan, we assumed the dictatorship. We
immediately issued several decrees, in order that everything might be in
readiness for us to proceed on the morrow at daybreak. The necessity of
being governed was so completely understood, that no one made any
opposition, and we were obeyed punctually.

At the appointed time, we left Samba. The caravan bore a sad and
melancholy aspect. With its three corpses, it absolutely resembled a
funeral procession. After three days' march across mountains, where we
generally found wind, snow, and cold, we arrived at the station of
Lithang (copper plain). The Chinese government keeps here a magazine of
provisions, and a garrison consisting of 100 soldiers. The Mandarins of
Lithang are: a Liang-Tai, a Cheou-Pei, and two Pa-Tsoung. A few minutes
after our arrival, these gentlemen came to pay us a visit. In the first
place, the illness and death of our guide were discussed at f