conway meets the high lama. he learns that the lamasery was built by a catholic monk named perrault from luxembourg in the early eighteenth century. the lamasery has since then been joined by others who have found their way into the valley. once they enter the valley, they age slowly. if they leave the valley, they age quickly and die. conway guesses that the high lama is perrault, now 300 years old. he is correct.