THE ‘* FEAST OF FLOWERS.” 943

day of the first month. M. Hue and his com-
panions were installed at Kounboum ten days
previous, and watched the numerous caravans of
pugrims arriving by every road that led to the
Lainasery. The festival was in every one’s mouth;
the flowers, it was said, were that year of surpass-
ing beauty; the Council of the Fine Arts, who had
examined them, had declared them to be far supe-
rior to those of preceding years.

Eager to behold these marvellous flowers, the
strangers hastened, as may be readily supposed, to
seek information respecting a festival so entirely
unknown. The following details were furnished
them on this curious ceremony :—

‘The flowers of the 15th of the first moon consist
of representations, secular and religious, in which
all the Asiatic nations are introduced, with their
peculiar physiognomies and their distinguishing
costumes. Persons, places, apparel, decorations—
all are formed of fresh butter! Three months are
occupied in the preparations for this singular spec-
tacle. Twenty lamas, selected from among the
most celebrated artists of the Lamasery, are daily
engaged in these butter-works, keeping their hands
all the while in water, lest the heat of the fingers
should disfigure their productions. As these la-
bours take place chiefly in the depth of the winter,

the operators have much suffering to endure from
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