Visit of M. Buc to the Lamaserp of Bounboum.

 

q] Feast of Flowers! The very words breathe
| of romance, and remind us of the lovely
) vale of Cashmere,

at With its roses, the brightest that Earth ever gave ;”

 

whose floral festivity is so charmingly painted in
“The Light of the Haram.” The reader will ac-
cordingly be prepared to expect a romantic chapter.

The Lamasery of Kounboum was visited by the
renowned traveller M. Huc, who thus describes
it :-—‘‘ At eleven leagues from Tang-Krou-Gul there
is, in the land of the Si-Fan, or eastern Thibetians,
a Lamasery, the fame of which extends not merely
through Tartary, but even to the remotest part of
Thibet. Thither pilgrims flock from all quarters,
venerating; for there was born the famous reformer
of Buddhism. The Lamasery bears the name of
Kounboum, and contains nearly four thousand
lamas. Its site is one of enchanting beauty. Ima-