A SURPRISING SIGHT. 945

selves at every step, and reciting, in under tones,
their form of prayer.

‘On the 15th the pilgrims again made the circuit
of the Lamasery, but by no means in such numbers
as on the previous days. Curiosity impelled the
great majority towards the points where prepara-
tions were making for the Feast of Flowers. When
night fell, we went to see the marvellous butter-
works, of which we had heard so much. The
flowers were arranged in the open air, before the
various temples of the Lamasery, and displayed by
illuminations of the most dazzling brilliancy. In-
numerable vases of brass and copper, in the form
of chalices, were placed upon slight framework,
itself representing various designs; and all these
vases were filled with thick butter supporting a
solid wick. The illuminations were arranged with
a taste that would have reflected no discredit on a
Parisian decorator.

“The appearance of the flowers themselves quite
amazed us. We could never have conceived that
in these deserts, amongst a half savage people,
artists of such eminent merit could have been
found. From the paintings and sculptures we had
seen in various Lamaseries, we had not in’ the
slightest degree been led to anticipate the exquisite
finish which we had occasion tu admire in the
butter-works. The flowers were bas-reliefs, of