` See here the Hell appointed for avarice and greed . Flanked upon the one side by Desire and on the other by Weariness . ' The lama warmed to his work , and one of the strangers sketched him in the quick-fading light . ` That is enough , ' the man said at last brusquely . ' I can not understand him , but I want that picture . He is a better artist than I. Ask him if he will sell it . ' ` He says `` No , sar , '' ' the Babu replied . The lama , of course , would no more have parted with his chart to a casual wayfarer than an archbishop would pawn the holy vessels of his cathedral . All Tibet is full of cheap reproductions of the Wheel ; but the lama was an artist , as well as a wealthy Abbot in his own place . ` Perhaps in three days , or four , or ten , if I perceive that the Sahib is a Seeker and of good understanding , I may myself draw him another . But this was used for the initiation of a novice . Tell him so , hakim . ' ` He wishes it now -- for money . ' The lama shook his head slowly and began to fold up the Wheel . The Russian , on his side , saw no more than an unclean old man haggling over a dirty piece of paper . He drew out a handful of rupees , and snatched half-jestingly at the chart , which tore in the lama 's grip . A low murmur of horror went up from the coolies -- some of whom were Spiti men and , by their lights , good Buddhists . The lama rose at the insult ; his hand went to the heavy iron pencase that is the priest 's weapon , and the Babu danced in agony . ` Now you see -- you see why I wanted witnesses . They are highly unscrupulous people .
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Babu Buddhists Sahib coolies days hakim lama pencase sar wayfarer