as she narrowly escapes treading on a special step around which every devout person carefully walks, for on it is painted the holy emblem of The Eye. The coolie carrying his load up the steep stairway suddenly "jinks" off on to the grass in order that his feet may not pollute the sacred sign. But in Nepal, unrecognized and apparently insignificant shrines and sanctified places encumber the ground—the streets are literally "paved with good intentions," for almost every other slab or stone is daubed with vermilion, and held sacred. In no country are there so many "sermons in stones" as in Nepal, and the uninitiated sightseer, with eyes aloft on carved balconies and perforated windows, is in constant danger of profaning these holy emblems with his uncompromising boots. But the inhabitants of the valley with few exceptions are liberal-minded and reasonable over matters of this kind, and when in doubt, it is not much trouble to slip off one's footgear—an act which will often permit one to step into the innermost recesses of the holiest of shrines.
Arrived at the outer door of the temple,
