on the backs of six camels. The larger
statues are cast in detail, the component parts being afterwards soldered
together.

[Picture: Bell and Idol foundry]

We availed ourselves of our stay at Tolon-Noor to have a figure of Christ
constructed on the model of a bronze original which we had brought with
us from France. The workmen so marvellously excelled, that it was
difficult to distinguish the copy from the original. The Chinese work
more rapidly and cheaply, and their complaisance contrasts most
favourably with the tenacious self-opinion of their brethren in Europe.

During our stay at Tolon-Noor, we had frequent occasion to visit the
Lamaseries, or Lama monasteries, and to converse with the idolatrous
priests of Buddhism. The Lamas appeared to us persons of very limited
information; and as to their symbolism, in general, it is little more
refined or purer than the creed of the vulgar. Their doctrine is still
undecided, fluctuating amidst a vast fanaticism of which they can give no
intelligible account. When we asked them for some distinct, clear,
positive idea what they meant, they were always thrown into utter
embarrassment, and stared at one another. The disciples told us that
their masters knew all about it; the masters referred us to the
omniscience of the Grand Lamas; the Grand Lamas confessed themselves
ignorant, but talked of some wonderful saint, in some Lamasery at the
other end of the country: _he_ could explain the whole affair. However,
all of them, disciples and masters, great Lamas and small, agreed in
this, that their doctrine came from the West. "The nearer you approach
the West," said they unanimously, "the purer and more luminous will the
doctrine manifest itself." When we expounded to them the truths of
Christianity, they never discussed the matter; they contented themselves
with calmly saying, "Well, we don't suppose that our prayers are the only
prayers in the world. The Lamas of the West will explain everything to
you. We believe in the traditions that have come from the West."

In point of fact there is no Lamasery of any importance in Tartary, the
Grand Lama or superior of which is not a man from Thibet. Any Tartar
Lama who has visited _Lha-Ssa_ [Land of Spirits], or _Monhe-Dhot_
[Eternal Sanctuary], as it is called in the Mongol dialect, is received,
on his return, as a man to whom the mysteries of the past and of the
future have been unveiled.

After