The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-06-30
something about Thibet.

by Robert Won SchiogentWert- he salC
= that very erroneous views had existed re
earding Thibet. Humboldt already had
endeavored to correct the idea that it was
formed by series of plateaus. Thibet j:
valley running parallel with the Hima
layas, and it was one of the most interest
| ing valleys upon the earth. The lowest
point lies 5000 feet above the level Of the
sea. The western part is intersected by
the Indus. The eastern part is divided
from the western by ridge Of $4,000 feet
In the eastern part are numerous lakes
sixteen of which contain salt water. The
highest lake, Iso Gyazar, lies 1868, and
the smallest, Iso (which means lake,
Magnalayi, lies l4,0l0 feet above the level
of the sea. The eastern part of Thibet is
still as good as unexplored; here resides
the head of the Buddhona church. The
western part is better known. 1t remains
under the political control of the Chinese,
who are very anxious to prevent the
Europeans from entering the country, es-
pecially the province of Gnori Khorsum
as this borders directly on the English pos
sessions. For this purpose, they have
lined the frontier with Gordon of guards,
whose duty it is to repulse every foreigner
and report the fact to Khorsum. As late
as 1850, Chinese guard was beheaded
because he suffered an Englishman in dis
guise 10 penetrate into the interior. This
makes all travel very dangerous. ~
When Robert and his brother Adolph
concluded to extend their travels into
Gnori Khorsum, they met with insupera-
Bile difficulties. They lacked experience.
In Milum, village ll,265 feet high, they
heard that war was going on near Gnori
Khorsum. Tbang Bahadur, the Prime
Minister, or rather the Governor, had CON-
menced war to gain possession of an al
most useless piece of land, and series of
small battles we're fought for this purpose
on height like that Of Mont Blanc. This,
however, did not deter our travellers from
carrying out their purpose. They had
gained the friendship of an influential ma
tive by the name of Mani, who concluded
to accompany them. 1t was the month
of June, and the rainy season had just be-
gun, which brought about a most alarming
change in the meadows. Want of pasture
is most seriously felt here; none but sheep
and horses find subsistence here, owing to
the steep declivities of the mountains. In
the beginning of July, the rains subsidized,
the snow melted rapidly away, and they
set out on their journey with large cara
van, followed by large herd of sheep,
each of which carried a bag of grain
weighing from eight to ten pounds. They
passed the Uta Dhura, a pass 1886 feet
high which is considered as neutral by
the Chinese, but by the English as belong
ing to them. From here they traversed
the Thungar Pass, 1881 feet high. AL
though this passage was extremely diff
cult, it was also exceedingly interesting.
Here they met with cold well at the
height of 1920 feet. In Thibet, is still a
higher one, viz: 1860 feet. which is the
highest in the world. In the European
Alps, there is none higher than 10,450
feet. Very interesting is also the gradual
decrease Of vegetation only now and then
rock is seen, like an island amid the
glaciers, on which phanerogamic plants
are found at the height Of 19,809 feet. In
the Alps, these rise to the height Of 12,546
feet.
In Liptel, they met guaod of eight
men, whose leader, Kutchol, addressed
them with Monsieur" the Chinese for
the French of the same name. They were
dressed in long, red coats and pants, yell
low hats, and long queues, which, however,
they found were simply stuck to their
heads. We found their guard to be not
Chinese, but real Hunias, or Mongols.
They profess Buddhism, and are consid-
cred by some as being the veritable Hunns
who oVerran Europe in the Middle Ages.
He showed several masks which he had
taken from living persons, and as some
doubt how this was possible had been ex-
pressed, he explained the process at some
length. These impressions, he said, were
more exact than photography, so much SO
that the Professor in Vienna had been
able to recognize diseases Of the skin in
them, which the individuals had from whom
they were taken.
They found that the guard had been
waiting for them several days to prevent
their entering the Gnori Khorsum. Mani,
their interpreter, tried to explain that
they did not intend to 60 to Gnori Khor-
sum, but that they wished to make short
cut to another valley. Purchases made
from them at a good price, and good din
ners, made them friendly and loquacious,
and gave them a chance to study their
manners and habits. While they would
eat with knives, they drank the water
from the brooks, on their bellies, like ami
mails. They are great on praying. They
conduct their prayers by turning an in
strument called Manicbos- Rhorten. He
showed such an instrument. 1t is made of
wood, like rattle in the interior are
number of prayers written on slips OF pa
per, and every turn they make is consid-
cred equal to saying all the prayers con-
tanned therein. The turning must be
from the right to the left. But they are
not satisfied with this. While they use
the right hand for turning the instrument,
they turn with the left number of fly
leaves, full of prayers. They make SO
many prayers in the belief that they exer-
else a magic influence over the deity, which
he is unable to resist. They carry with
them amulets and rosaries, while each also
has small altar, into which he inserts
pictures of the deity to whom he is about
to pray.
Our traveller now showed a real treas
ure--an iufallible book for obtaining abso-
luton from all sins, and insuriDg their eff
cacy, entitled, Repentance of all Sins
Or, the Golden Razor which Slaves from
all Sins" The words in this Book of
Prayer must be read exactly as written,
for which reason they add, at the conclu-
sion of their prayer. to forgive them in |