O44 MUSEUM OF WORKS IN BUTTER !

the cold. The first process is thoroughly to knead
the butter, so as to render it firm. When the
material is thus prepared, the various portions of
the butter-work are confided to various artists,
who, however, all alike work under the direction
of a principal, who has furnished the plan of the
flowers for the year, and has the general superin-
tendence of their production. The figures, &c.,
being prepared and put together, are then con-
fided to another set of artists, who colour them,
under the direction of the same leader.” Whata
curious and comical idea—a museum of works in
butter !

M. Huc proceeds thus to describe what he saw
when the period for the grand spectacle arrived :—

“On the eve of the festival, the arrival of
strangers became perfectly amazing. In every
direction you heard the cries of the camels and the
bellowing of the long-haired oxen on which the
pilgrims had journeyed thither. On the slopes of
the mountain overlooking the Lamasery arose
numerous tents, wherein were encamped such of
the visitors as had not found accommodation in
the dwellings of the lamas. Throughout the 14th,
the number of persons who performed the pil-
erimage around the Lamasery was immense. It
was for us a strange and painful sight to view that
great crowd of human beings prostrating then-