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shield of exquisite workmanship, ornamented with a
golden “ Hum ” in the centre. Into the top of the shield
wa$ in-let an irregular lump which may have been
merely coloured glass, but which looked extraordinarily
like one of those guava-jelly-like lumps of polished
but uncut spinel ruby which are not infrequently found
among the treasures of Indian rajahs. Behind this
silver-gilt throne was an embossed silver proscenium,
framing in the dispossessed Buddha. To the right of
it hung the state crown of the Magician, which is a
beautiful piece of work, charmingly finished ivory skulls
alternating with florets of silver heavily powdered with
imitation diamonds; round the circlet itself were
several large imitation sapphires, relieved here and
there by some really good turquoise lumps.* All round
this chapel were cupboards and recesses of which the
orifice was in every case entirely concealed by knotted
katags. Pushing them aside, one could discover dimly
in the darkness beautifully finished brass images, half
life-size, either of some repulsive god-monster, or of
some one of those groups which, go where you will
in Tibet, are accepted as necessary and inevitable
symbols of a worship which, in its essence, is purity
itself. In one place or another were lying about here
the Oracle’s gorget, mask, bow and divining glass, and
though he had been gone for four weeks or more, he
might have stepped back that evening and found his
shrine ready and to the last detail arranged for service.
Mr. Claude White was lucky enough to persuade the
monks to sell to him the little circular shield I have
described. They said they could easily replace it,
* It was a little difficult to examine this crown, from the darkness of the chapel; but
this is, so far as I can remember it, a fair description of the jewel..