Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-01

yarnish in order to dishgure their vsages
about two hundred years ago the Nomekhan, or Lam.
King Of Anterior Thbet being ausere man. felt il hi
duty repress the extravaganza and luxury in dress
which the ladies of his realm had become addicted Thu
sumptuous elegance of female attire combined with th,
heightened charms of the human face divine" was
found to be powerful for the cebate virtues Of the
holy families of the Lamas while even the Buddhist
relaxed their discipline in manner that threat
ened complete dissolution" To this alarming
bertinism" the Nomekhan hit upon the expedent above
mentioned and the edict obeyed without protest
Now the only rivalry among the ladies Of Lha-Ssa is
who of them shall render herself most hideous for she
that is most Extensively besmeared with this disgusting
cosmetic passes for the most pious the vanity of per-
sona beauty having thus been succeeded by the vanity
of religious ostentation vanity Of vanitie saith the
preacher, all lin woman) is vanity. Thibetans are very
abstemous in their diet but they have the good taste
says French missionary, not to eat without drink
ing their bowl of Thibetan ale. AS NJ Hue pronounces
this beverage not disagreeabe suppose he must
have dotted his Lama robe in LhaSsa do the Lamas
of Lha-Ssa indulge the appetite for the slightly acid
| liquor made from fermented barley?'
The Thibetan language says NJ Hue is essentially re-
lgous and mystical it expresses all ideas relative to
the soul and the divinity with much clearness and force
In this it has, therefore, great advantage the Chi
transmission of the spiritual terms expressive Of Chris
tan doctrine The philosophy of Lamaism taught in
Lha Ssa to be sort of necessariansm and PAN
theisn. According to the educated Lamas Buddha is
the only necessary and independent being the begin
ming and end Of oil things The earth, the stars the
trees brutes and men-a that exists is finite and
poral manifestation Of Buddha All things proceed from
him, as rays from the All beings emanating from
Buddha have had beginning and will have end but
they proceeded necessarily from this universal essence
they will be reabsorbed by like necessity. Thus,
Buddha is eternal his manifestations also eternal
but in this sense that manifestations always have been
and always will be- though taken separately all have had
beginning and will have end" If this is not den-
teal with the muchvaunted phosophism Of Spinoza
must have failed rightly to comprehend the system Of
that bold idealist
The Buddhsts admit an unlimited number of Divine
ncdrnations These living Buddhas called CAabrons
celebrated are tS Tale Lama at Lha-Ssa; the
GuiSnT amba, at Grand Kouren the Tchang Ka-Fo, at
PeA; and the in the country of the Ssamba,
at the foot of the Hmalaya Mountains Sometimes
Chaben begins his modestly in small temple,
and surrounded by only few disciples AS his reputa-
ton increases aocessons made the number of his
attendant Lamas soon they build their cells around it.
till at lastt may become Of the most famous in the
country The election and enthronization of q
Buddha in e place one that has ansmgraed is thus
described. When Grand Lama is gone array" j. is
dead the mater is far from being subject of mourning
in the convent for every knows that the Chaberon
will soon reappar The apparent death is only the COM
mencement of new existenoe--a new link added to
boundless and uninterrupted chain Of successive lives
simply pangenesia Whilst the saint is in the chry-
sails state his disciples however, in the greatest anx
ety. the grand point is discover where their master
has returned to life. If rainbow appears it is sign
from their Lama shat he has returned the fesh and
chosen deputation set consult the Cknvtchm or
diyiner of hidden things prayers reced ahe books
of dvination opened and is announced that the
Grand Lama has come to life again. at such place and
in such family When the Chaberon is found he is not
saluted the living Buddha until after solemn examinl'
ton concerning his previous exi,tence The child who
is seldom than FIVE six years DID, usually comes
victorious from the trial. The simple worshppers
become the dupes of the willy Churtchun who has in
terest in making Grand Lama Of some baby. But"
says simple hearted priest though purely human
philosophy will of course, reject all such superna ra
facts, place Thorn the account of fraud C.tho
lie missionaries believe that the great liar who deceived
first parents still pursues in this world his syem
Of falsehood, and may sometimes speak to blythe
mouth of infant with the view to maintain the filth
of his worshippers."
M. Hue was not suffered to remain long at Lha-Ssa.
The Chinese ambassador resident in that city would
have been the actual Governor of Thibethe nominal
Regent not daring to do any thing contraventon ths
behests. NJ Hue having incurred the jealous hostility of
this mnion Of the Chinese Emperor day politely
informed thatthe KnTchai the ambassador considered
Thbet much too poor and cold country for Europeans
Accordingly, he begged missionaries to consult the
benefit Of their health by to France
Rightly interpreting this Oriental advice of the naughty
envoy Of the Howery Kingdom the adventurous travellers
left LhaSsa INST TO return TO France but betake them
selves anew to the apostolic vicariate Of Mongolia.
We add few extracts from these entertaining volumes
The first select evinces trait Of the Lama religion,
which to us the trick of conjurer, imposing
the popular creduy, while to the simple faith Of
good priest it appears in the light of demonan mi
race. While travelling through Mongolia the missona
res day encountered numerous caravans of pilgrims
whose numbers and devotion pqued their curiosity On
inqurng of an old Lama they learnt the object Of the
pilgrimage to be as follows:
"'We are oil going to Racbe- Churin,' he replied in
tone Of profound devotion.
Some great soemnity doubtless calls you thitherr
Yes tomorrow is to be great day. Lama Bokte
win display his power He win kill himself but win not
die
"We understood in moment the kind Of solemnty
which had put the Tartars in motion. Lama was to
open his belly take out his entrals and place them be-
fore him. and then return to his former state This spec
tace atrocious and disgusting as IL is is very common in
the Lama converts Of Tartary The Boke who is to dis
play his power as the Mongos say prepares himself for
the net by long days Of fasting and prayer and during
the whole time he must maintain the absolute silence
and refrain from all communication with When the