The Washington times., 1911-08-03

| NllOuSu HOl always, anu lTeSH water Wds
generally hard to find. There were
times when the cattle suffered. We fol-
lowed valleys. and crept slowly along
the sides of mountains, grdvelly and
| destitute OF Nerdure. Once, for two
entire days We were obliged to camp 10
the herbage having been so scant for
| some time that they were beginning -
lose flesh. Being heavily loaded. 1t was
important 1s to keep them in condition,
| Ihanks TO Gwynne, our own supplies
were abundant. though we, too, suffered
occasionally for water.
1t seems to be a blind trall!" I re-
marked one evening after supper.
What VIA DO you propose to do about it?"
| pound TO flnd a monastery before long.
They'll no doubt take us N, and. per-
| maps. put us on the track for Tad-sa-
Iun; There no tellfng-at all events,
| wei get rest"
But if they shouldn't"
Then we'll go on to the next house.
But these lamas are filled with curiosity.
depend upon II, they'll want to inter-
view us. They'll want to know where
we've come from. and where were 60
ing: They wouldn't miss the chance"
/ We kept an eye upon the great walls
OF the gigantic cliffs and peaks that
held us. Often these vast lamaseries
are perChed upon the most inaccessible
acclivities-against huge ramparts which
| rise behind them like a part of the
! structure itself. Facing the east adds
/ 10, their dignity, and II across some
lake or waterway, 1t is considered de-
F, sirable.
But days passed without the sight Of
/ human abode to relieve t1e monotonv
OF the desolate and gigantic CHATS, the
preclpices, appalling heights and snow
hooded peaks that always and forever
surrounded us.
! The yaks were growing footsore, and
the ponies needed shoeing. Our days
march was cut down to nalf, then to
one-third. Although we had no way OF
measuring this, we felt sure Of IL from
our rate of progress and the time re-
quired for rest each day.
Great mountains of gravel stretched
ABOUT us 1t was all the animals could
90 TO pick up living. | think at this
time. we would have hailed with delight
the appearance of our greatest enemy.
Even Toxic or the snake-chdrmer would
nave been welcome
We We, We're just going into camp for the
night when l heard a wild cry from
Roedler. who was ahead a short dis
tanCe
Look he called, pointing to one Of
the heights.
There, high up among the tower
ing walls of granite, giIded with
the rays Of the setting sun, was
Perched the fantastic pile of some
vast gomba or monastery. Story upon
story, tier upon tier of windows, a pa rt
stared garishly down upon us. We should
nave passed 1t but for an accident, so
thoroughly at one was IL with the huge
rampant that supported 1t.
To shade his eyes from the glare of
the sinking sun, which at that minute
dipped from a cloud belt, Gwynne had
lifted his hand and turned his head
aside, when there. in the full glory Of
parting day II stood-a unit with the cliff
that held it.
We drew I'm ba popIas
around. 1t was the signal to the weary
yaks that the days work was about to
end. Gwynne took off his hat, waved
IT.. and sent up shout of exultation.
followed his example and then said l
wished it was Tad-s a-fuh
But it's not. young man. nor is 1t
anywhere near it. Be satisfied II we
can find rest. shelter. and a guide up
there. doubt If Tad-sa -fuh IS within
a hundred miles Of where we are. and
you'll probably call 1t a thousand before
We reach it."
'Probably! I've seen enough of this
country to believe anything you tell
me" And had
The cattle We're still drifting along
slowly. 1t would be unwise to let them
stop, as 1t was still a half-hour's climb
to the first wall of the gomba.
II was nearly dark when we got there,
and the manis. or PRAYER walls. showed
the strange nature of the place We were
approaching. Here upon every side was
carved or painted those mystic words:
ON Mani Padme Hum.
II was wild, fantastic. outlandish,
BarbariC paintings of devils, grotesque
mOnStrOsities of men and beasts, warn
lngS to the evil-doer of the swift venge-
anCe that was sure to follow and over
take him in the pursuit OF wickedness,
forCtbly described in the terse and pithy
tongue of the BOd-skad. OF course this
was all explained to me by RoedIer,
whose enforced stay in this enchanted
region had afforded many opportunities
for knowledge.
At the portal, we were met by a monk
in flowing robes. From his neck there
hung the strange insignia of office-the
bell, the beads, the amulets, the human
thigh-bone fashioned into trumpet form.
the Cymbals. the conch-shell 1t was ali
very wild, very fantastic. and erotesoue
The man had kindly face He looked
wonderinsly from one TO the other of
us, and then at the yaks and ponies. l
was still mounted, while Gwynne was
making known our wants.
In minute there was the sound of
bell, followed almost Immediately by
half dozen lamaS-nOvitiates-wh
made haste to unload our cattle and re-
lieve us of all trouble 1t was clear
that we were invited to enter and make
ourselves at home for as long as we
pleased. 1t was an indeScribable relief
after the hardships we had endured. To
our weary eyes, Gim-ra was a haven of
rest.
A Continuation of This Story VIII