ABSTRACT
SHARA SUME was a stately and well-preserved pile of buildings built upon the southern slopes of a wide valley. The monastery consisted of nine temples surrounded by a jumble of low dwelling-houses in which the lamas had their cells. Their number was estimated at fifteen hundred, but Seng Chen when he took over the government had reduced the number by more than two thirds. He had sent all unlearned and therefore unworthy lamas back to their family tents to resume the nomad life, marry and beget offspring.
