Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1889-05-05
rnE a LANA.

NJ. George keanans Conversation vim
ths Ruisr OF the Trans.LAiksI.
"After dinner I had a long talk with
The GRAND Lama about my native coun-
Try. geography. aud the shape OF tho
earth. 1t seemed very strange to 0nd
anywhere on the globe. In the nine
teenth century. an educated man and
high ecclesiastical dignitary who had
neve even heard Of America, and who
did not feel 1T all sure that tho world
Is round. Tho Grand Lama VIA such
o nan
"'You have been in many countrics.'
he said to me through an interpreter.
and have talked with the wise me Of
the West; what is your opinion with
regard TO the shape Of tho earth?'
81 think 1 replied, that 1t Is
shaped like n great BALL
"'1 have heard SO before said tho
Grand Lsma. looking thoughtfully
away into vacancy. The Russian OIL
cers whom l have met have told mo
that the world Is round. Such u belief
ID contrary 10 the teachings Of our old
Thibctan books, but l have observed
that tho Russian wise men predict
eciipscs accurately; and il they can
toll beforehand when the sun and thu
moon arc to be darkened, they proba-
bly, knew something about the shnpe Of
tho earth. Why do you think that the
earth Is roundp'
- ~ have many reasons for thinking
3d. answered.; but perhaps tho best
and strongest reason Is that l have
been around it,
This statement seemed to give the
Grand Lama Il sort Of mental shock.
"lHow have you been around it?'
he inquired. What do you mean by
"n-ourd it?" How do you know that
you have been around it?'
81 turned my back upon my homo.'
replied. and travelled many months
In the course taken by the sun. |
crossed wide continents and great
oceans. Every night tho sun set be.
fore my face and every morning 1t rose
behind my back. The earth always
seemed fiat, but l could not find any
where an end or an edge; and at last.
when had travelled more than thirty
thousand vers;s, | found myself again
In my W country and returned Ia
my homo from q direction exactly op-
posite TO that which l had takon in
leaving 1t. II tho world was fiat, do
you think l could have lone this?'
1t is very strange said tho Grand
Lama, after n thoughtful pause OF n
moment. Where is your country7
How far is it beyond St. Potcrsburg?'
AGAiu rntntn, 20 fntho. F.ox. O.
Petersburg than st. Petersburg is from
here / replied. 1t lies almost ex-
actly under our feet; and il we could 20
directly through the earth. that would
DO the shortest way to reach it.
"'Are your countrymen walking
around there heads downward under
II feetP asked the Grand Lama with
evident interest and surprise, but
without my perccptib!e change in his
habitually impassive face.
Yes l replied: and to them we
seem to BIO sitting heads downward
here
''The Grand Lama then asked me 10
describe infinitely tho route TINT wa
had followed in coming from America
to Siberia, and to name tho countries
through which VIC had passed.. He
knew that Germany adjoincd Russia on
the west, he had heard OF British India
and OF England-probably through
Thibet-and ho had n vague idea OF the
extent and situation OF the Pacific
Ocean; but Of the Atlantic md OF tho
continet that lies between tho two
great oceans he knew nothing.
After u long talk, In the course Of
which we discussed the sphericity o.
the earth from every possible point OF
Wow, tho Grand Lama seemed TO be
partly or wholly convinced OF the
truth Of that doctrine. and said, with a
sigh, 1t Is not in accordance with the
teachings OF our books; but the Rus
slams must be right
alt IL n somewhat remarkable fact
that DR.. Erman, the only foreigner who
had soon tho lamasery OF Goose Lake
previous to our visit, had IN almost pro-
ciscly similar conversation concerning
the shape OF tho earth with the man who
was thon lin 1929 Grand Lama. Almost
sixty years elapsed between DIR. Err
mans visit and ours, but the doctrine
Of the sphericity OF the earth continued
throughout that period To trouble eccle-
siastiral minds in this remote East ST.
berian lamasory; and II ia not improba-
BILE that sixty years hence some trav-
cler from the western world mny be
nskcd by some future Grand Iame To
give his reasons for believing tho
world o DO II sphere. "--Goorge Ken
MN la T., 80 i..r,