Page:Doughty--Mirrikh or A woman from Mars.djvu/218

 they were able, the rules of the lamasery were preserved; prayer wheels were ground and spiritual instruction given. At first the Doctor undertook to explain something of Padma’s discourses, for every other day the venerable lama kindly consented to deliver them in Hindustani, which  language several of his flock understood; but it was hard  translating to me, and as the Doctor soon grew tired of the  task, we gave it up.

When not engaged in religious exercises, the lamas kept themselves busy as best they could, and foremost among  their occupations was the plaiting of long strips of hide, out of which it was intended to construct a bridge to throw  across the cañon, though how this was to be accomplished I  could not comprehend. The hides were found in the cave in the small chamber where the provisions had been stored. The former bridge was likewise of hide, Padma informed us, and these had been placed where we discovered them for  the purpose of renewing it when necessary. But one thing I may say right here, we found it very difficult to draw  much information about the country or the cave and its  history from the old superior of Psam-dagong, for in spite  of his friendly manner he seemed determined that in case  we ever did succeed in leaving Thibet alive, it should be in  utter ignorance about the land and its resources, so far as he  was concerned. Often we questioned him on these points, but his replies were always vague and unsatisfactory, and  the conversation was dropped as soon as possible. Perhaps, indeed, the old man’s life had been such a retired one that  his information was but slight on matters other than of a spiritual nature; but the Doctor maintained, and I agreed with  him, that he probably thought he acted under orders from  the Grand Lama, for he would at times retire and be absent  for hours, and upon his return declare that he had been in  spirit to Lh’asa and in consultation with his superior. I give all this just as we received it at the time, and shall  make no comments upon its probable truth or falsity. Once I asked him why during these visits he could not provide  for our departure from the country, but he cut me short by  saying that such things were impossible; that his conversations in spirit with his superior were only of a spiritual  nature, that he could not even bring help to assist us in our  leaving the cave.

Thus the days came and went, and the time drew near