Chapter 4 Summary

Mallinson, Conway, Barnard and Brinklow are surprised to find the Tibetan monastery equipped with modern amenities, including porcelain bathtubs and central heating. Conway even reads the words "Akron, Ohio" on his tub. Chang eats very little and does not take wine. For dinner, he has only a salad. This makes Conway believe he has an illness.

At dinner, Conway asks if the community has visitors. Chang replies that they rarely do. Their community survives without "contamination" from the outside world. Contamination can come in many forms, such as dance bands or movies. Miss Brinklow asks how many monks live here, what nationalities they are and other direct questions. Chang says there are fifty members of many races, but most are Chinese and Tibetan. He sidesteps her questions about the exact practices and beliefs of the monks.

When Conway questions him further, Chang says...