I never heard of thy God . ' ` Let thy hair grow long and talk Punjabi , ' said the young soldier jestingly to Kim , quoting a Northern proverb . ` That is all that makes a Sikh . ' But he did not say this very loud . The lama sighed and shrank into himself , a dingy , shapeless mass . In the pauses of their talk they could hear the low droning ` Om mane pudme hum ! Om mane pudme hum ! ' -- and the thick click of the wooden rosary beads . ` It irks me , ' he said at last . ` The speed and the clatter irk me . Moreover , my chela , I think that maybe we have over-passed that River . ' ` Peace , peace , ' said Kim . ` Was not the River near Benares ? We are yet far from the place . ' ` But -- if our Lord came North , it may be any one of these little ones that we have run across . ' ' I do not know . ' ` But thou wast sent to me -- wast thou sent to me ? -- for the merit I had acquired over yonder at Such-zen . From beside the cannon didst thou come -- bearing two faces -- and two garbs . ' ` Peace .
One must not speak of these things here , ' whispered XXXXX .
Benares Kim North Punjabi Sikh chela didst garbs lama rosary