amas were permitted
to attend their chief further, the rest remaining encamped north of the
Great Wall.

The Guison-Tamba sojourned at Peking for three months, receiving an
occasional visit from the Emperor; and from the Grand Dignitaries. He
then relieved the celestial city from his troublesome presence, and after
paying visits to the Lamaseries of the Five Towers, and of the Blue Town,
set out on his return to his own states, when he died, the victim, it was
asserted, of a slow poison that had been administered to him by order of
the Emperor. The Khalkhas, however, were more irritated than intimidated
by his death, for they are persuaded that their Guison-Tamba never
actually dies. All he does, when he appears to die, is to transmigrate
to some other country, whence he returns to them younger, more vigorous,
more active than ever. In 1844, accordingly, they were told that their
living Buddha was incarnate in Thibet, and they went thither, in solemn
procession, to fetch the child of five years old who was indicated to
them, and to place him on his imperishable throne. While we were
encamped at Kou-Kou-Noor, on the banks of the Blue Sea, we saw pass by us
the great caravan of Khalkhas, who were on their way to Lha-Ssa to bring
home the Lama-King of the Great Kouren.

The Kouren of the Thousand Lamas--_Mingan Lamane Koure_--also a
celebrated Lamasery, which dates from the invasion of China by the
Mantchous. When Tchun-Tche, {93} founder of the dynasty now reigning in
China, descended from the forests of Mantchouria to march upon Peking, he
met on his way a Lama of Thibet, whom he consulted as to the issue of his
enterprise. The Lama promised him complete success, whereupon Tchun-Tche
ordered him to come and see him when he should be installed at Peking.
After the Mantchous had rendered themselves masters of the capital of the
empire, the Lama did not fail to keep his appointment. The Emperor at
once recognised the person who had favoured him with such an auspicious
horoscope; and, in token of his gratitude, allotted to him a large extent
of land whereon to construct a Lamasery, and revenues sufficient for the
support of a thousand Lamas. From the time of its erection, however, the
Lamasery of the Thousand Lamas has grown and grown, so that at present it
contains more than four thousand Lamas, though its original designation
still remains. By degrees, traders have established themselves around
it, and have buil