A yellow mantle draped his person, and he sat cross-
legged with joined palms. The throne on which he
sat was supported by carved lions, and covered with
silk scarfs. It was about four feet high, six feet long,
and four feet broad. The State officers moved about
with becoming gravity ; there was the Kuchar Khanpo,
with a bowl of holy water, coloured yellow with
saffron ; the censer-carrier, with a golden censer with
three chains ; the Solpon chenpo, with a golden teapot
jj and other household officials. Two gold lamps,
made in the shape of flower vases, burnt on either side
of the throne.
“ When all had been blessed and taken seats, the
Solpon chenpo poured tea in his Holiness’s golden cup,
and four assistants served the people present. Then
grace was said, beginning with Om, Ah, Hum, thrice
repeated, and followed by, 1 Never losing sight even
for a moment of the Three Holies, making reverence
even to the Three Precious Ones. Let the blessing
of the Three Konchog be upon us,’ etc. Then we
silently raised our cups and drank the tea, which was
most deliciously perfumed. In this manner we drank
three cupfuls, and then put our bowls back in the bosoms
of our gowns.
“ After this the Solpon chenpo put a golden dish
full of rice before the Dalai Lama, and he touched it,
and then it was divided among those present; then
grace was again said, and his Holiness, in a low, indistinct
tone, chanted a hymn, which was repeated
by the assembled lamas in deep, grave tones. When
this was over, a venerable man rose from the first row
of seats and made a short address, reciting the many
acts of mercy the Dalai Lamas had vouchsafed Tibet,
The great ascent ot the Potala.
(Reproduced by k in d permission o f M r . Claude White an d Messrs. Johnston a n d Hoffmann.)
[T o face page 290.— V o l . II.