so little of joy in this world that the day
succeeding a festival is generally full of bitterness and melancholy.

[Picture: Chapter Tailpiece]

[Picture: The Great Wall of China]

CHAPTER II.

Marvellous birth of Tsong-Kaba--His preparation for the Apostleship--He
departs for the West--His interview with the Grand Lama of Thibet--He
reforms the Lamanesque worship--Numerous analogies between the Catholic
religion and reformed Buddhism--Origin of these analogies--Tree of the
Ten Thousand Images--Lamanesque Teaching--Faculty of Prayer--Government
of the Lamasery of Kounboum--Offerings of the Pilgrims--Industry of the
Lamas--The adventures of Sandara the Bearded--Favourable disposition of
the Lamas towards Christianity--Singular practice for the relief of
Travellers--Nocturnal Prayers--Departure for the Lamasery of Tchogortan.

The country of Amdo, situate south of Koukou-Noor, is inhabited by
Eastern Thibetians, who, like the Mongol Tartars, lead a pastoral and
nomadic life. The aspect of the country is wild and dismal. In all
directions the eye discerns nothing but mountains of red and yellow
ochre, almost destitute of vegetation, and intersected by deep ravines.
It is only here and there, in this sterile and desolate region, that you
find valleys tolerably supplied with pasturage, and hither the nomad
tribes lead their flocks.

According to the Lamanesque chronicles, towards the middle of the
fourteenth century of our era, a shepherd of the land of Amdo, named
Lombo-Moke, had set up his black tent at the foot of a mountain, near the
entrance to a deep ravine, through which, over a rocky bed, meandered an
abundant stream. Lombo-Moke shared with his wife, Chingtsa-Tsio, the
cares of pastoral life. They possessed no numerous flocks; some twenty
goats and a few sarligues or long-haired cattle, constituted all their
wealth. For many years they had lived alone and childless in these wild
solitudes. Each day Lombo-Moke led his animals to the neighbouring
pastures, while Chingtsa-Tsio, remaining alone in her tent, occupied
herself with the various preparations of milk, or with weaving, after the
manner of the women of Amdo, a coarse linen with the long hair of the
sarligues.

One day, Chingtsa-Tsio having descended to the bottom of the ravine to
draw water, experienced a faintness, and fell senseless on a large stone
which bore inscribed on it various characters i