The entrance to the chief temples of the holy city is through a large hall where holy water and rosaries are sold, and in which stand four statues of the archangels. The walls are covered with rude paintings of scenes from the legends of Buddha, and its roof is supported by six massive pillars, covered with beautiful carving, spoilt by gorgeous paint and gilding. The temple itself is a long nave, divided by rows of pillars from two aisles, and by silver screens of open trellis-work from two large chancels. Into the aisle on each side open fourteen chapels; at the end is the holy place. In its furthest niche, in a kind of apse, is the magnificent golden statue of the now deified Gautama Buddha. In front of the idol is the high altar or table of offerings, raised by several stages from the floor; on the upper levels being images of gold, silver and clay; on the lower, the bells, lamps, censers and other vessels used in the holy service. At the sound of a trumpet the clergy assemble in the entrance hall, wearing the cloak and cap; at its third blast the procession, with the living Buddha, the Grand Lama, at its head, marches down the aisle. When he is seated on his throne, each Lama, or cardinal, bows three times before him, and then seats himself on a divan according to his rank. After a bell is rung, the ten Buddhist commandments are repeated and other formulas, then the priests sing in choir pieces from the sacred books. The monks burst out into a hymn of prayer for the presence of the spirits of all the Buddhists. One of them raises aloft over his head a looking-glass, the idea of which seems to be to catch the image of the spirit as it comes; a second raises a jug; a third a mystic symbol of the world; a fourth a cup, and so on. Meanwhile the voices of the singers, and the sound of the bells, drums and trumpets grows louder and louder, and the temple is filled with incense from the sacred censers. The monk with the jug pours several times water, mixed with saffron and sugar, over the mirror, which another wipes each time with a silk napkin. The water flows over the mirror to the symbols of the world, and is caught in the cup beneath. Thence the holy mixture is poured into another jug, and a drop or two is allowed to trickle on to the hands of each of the worshiping monks, who marks the crown of his shaven head, the forehead and his breast with the sacred liquid. He then reverently swallows the remaining drops, and, in so doing, believes himself to be swallowing a part of the divine being, whose image has been caught in the mirror over which the water has passed. PRAYING-WHEELS.