he had a great bruise on his face. The blow I had struck him had merely
knocked him down, and stunned him."

When the Dchiahour had finished this narrative, he looked at us in turns,
laughing and repeating, again and again, "Who will say people cannot live
without eating?" "Well," said we, "this is a very good beginning,
Samdadchiemba; but you have not told us yet how many men you have
killed." "I never killed any one; but that was merely because I did not
stay long enough in my native Three Valleys; for at the age of ten they
put me into a great Lamasery. I had for my especial master a very rough,
cross man, who gave me the strap every day, because I could not repeat
the prayers he taught me. But it was to no purpose he beat me; I could
learn nothing: so he left off teaching me, and sent me out to fetch water
and collect fuel. But he continued to thrash me as hard as over, until
the life I led became quite insupportable, and at last I ran off with
some provisions, and made my way towards Tartary. After walking several
days, haphazard, and perfectly ignorant where I was, I encountered the
train of a Grand Lama who was repairing to Peking. I joined the caravan,
and was employed to take charge of a flock of sheep that accompanied the
party, and served for its food. There was no room for me in any of the
tents, so I had to sleep in the open air. One evening I took up my
quarters behind a rock, which sheltered me from the wind. In the
morning, waking somewhat later than usual, I found the encampment struck,
and the people all gone. I was left alone in the desert. At this time I
knew nothing about east, west, north, or south; I had consequently no
resource but to wander on at random, until I should find some Tartar
station. I lived in this way for three years--now here, now there,
exchanging such slight services as I could render for my food and
tent-room. At last I reached Peking, and presented myself at the gate of
the Great Lamasery of _Hoang-Sse_, which is entirely composed of
Dchiahour and Thibetian Lamas. I was at once admitted, and my countrymen
having clubbed together to buy me a red scarf and a yellow cap, I was
enabled to join the chorus in the recitation of prayers, and, of
consequence, to claim my share in the distribution of alms."--We
interrupted Samdadchiemba at this point, in order to learn from him how
he could take part in the recitation of prayers, without having learned
either to read or