242 THE LAMASERY OF KOUNBOUM.

gine, in a mountain’s side, a deep broad ravine,
adorned with fine trees, and harmonious with the
cawing of rooks and yellow-beaked crows, and the
amusing chattering of magpies. On the two sides
of the ravine, and on the slopes of the mountain,
rise, in an amphitheatrical form, the white dwell-
ings of the lamas, of various sizes, but all alike
surrounded with a wall and surmounted by a ter-
race. Amidst these modest habitations you see
rising, here and there, numerous Buddhist temples
with gilt roofs, sparkling with a thousand brilliant
colours, and surrounded with elegant colonnades.
The houses of the superiors are distinguished by
streamers floating from small hexagonal turrets;
almost at every step you see niches, in form re-
sembling a sugar-loaf, within which are burning
incense, odoriferous wood, and cypress leaves. The
most striking feature of all, however, is to see an
exclusive population of lamas, walking about the
numerous streets, clothed in their uniform of red
dresses and yellow mitres.”

This renowned establishment enjoys so high a
repute, that the worshippers of Buddha resort
thither in pilgrimage from all parts of Tartary and
Thibet. Upon the great festivals the congregation
of strangers is Immense; and of these there are
four in the year—the most famous of all being the
“ Feast of Flowers,” which takes place on the 15th