Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1889-04-27
THE GRAND LAMA.
Mr. George Kennnn'S Conversation with
tho Ruler Of tho Trans BaIkaL

tho Ruler Of tho Trans BalkaL
CATER dinner had e long talk with
the GRAND Lama about my native coun-
try. geography, and the shape Of the
earth. It seemed very strange to find
anywhere on the globe, in the nine
teenth century, an educated man and
high ecclesiastical dignitary who had
never even heard of America, and who
did not feel at all sure that the world
is round. The Grand Lama was such
q man.
You have been in many countries
he said to me through an interpreter.
and have talked with the wise men of
the West; what is your opinion with
regard to the shape of the earthP'
81 think l replied, that it Is
shaped like great BALL
81 have heard 80 before, said the
Grand Lama, looking thoughtfully
away into vacancy. The Russian Off
cers whom l have met have told me
that the world is round. Such belief
is contrary to the teachings of our old
Thibetan books, but l have observed
that the Russian wise men predict
eclipses accurately; and if they can
tell beforehand when the sun and tho
moon are to be darkened, they proba-
bly, know something about the shape OF
the earth. Why do you think that the
earth is round?'
4 have many reasons for thinking
So answered; but perhaps the best
and strongest reason is that l have
been around it,
This statement seemed to give the
Grand Lama sort of mental shock.
GLOW have you been around itp'
he inquired. What do you mean by
"around itP" How do you know that
you have been around it?'
" 4 turned my back upon my home
/ replied, and travelled many months
in the course taken by the sun. ]
crossed wide continents and great
oceans. Every night the sun set be.
fore my face and every morning it rose
behind my back. The earth always
seemed flat, but could not find any
whore an end or an edge; and at last,
when / had travelled more than thirty
thousand versts, found myself again
my home from q direction exactly op.
posite TO that which 1 had taken in
leaving it. If the world was fiat, do
you think / could have done this?'
L" 1t is worry strange said the Grand
Lama, after n thoughtful pause OF Il
moment. Where is your countryP
How far is it beyond ST. Pctersburg?'
"'My country is farther from St.
Petersburg than st. Petersburg Is from
here 1 replied. 1t lies almost ex-
actly under our feet; and if we could go
directly through the earth, that would
be the shortest way to reach it.
Are your countrymen walking
around there heads downward under
our feetH asked the Grand Lama with
evident interest and surprise, but
without any perceptible change in his
habitually impressive face.
Yes replied; and to them we
seem to be sitting heads downward
here
The Grand Lama then asked me to
describe infinitely the route that we
had followed in coming from America
through which we had passed. lie
knew that Germany adjoined Russia OIL
the west, he had heard of British India
and OF England-probably through
Thibet-and he had q vague idea of the
extent and situation OF the Pacific
Ocean; but of the Atlantic and of the
continet that lies between the two
great oceans he knew nothing.
After long talk, in the course of
which we discussed the sphericity o.
the earth from every possible point of
view, the Grand Lama seemed to be
! partly or wholly convinced of the
, truth Of that doctrine, and said, with 1,
sigh, 1t is not in accordance with the
teachings of our books; but the Rus
! slams must be right.
"lt Is somewhat remarkable fact
that Dr. Ermun, the only foreigner who
had seen the lamasery Of Goose Lake
! previous to our visit. had IN almost pre-
| cisely similar conversation CONCERNING