The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-04-19
LIFE IN FAR AWAY TIBET.
Things in That Strange Land as Repre-
sented by the I.atest Explorer.

Things in That Strange Land as Repre-
sented by the Latest Explorer.
1.-THE neopie of Tibet have the funniest
way of making tea you ever heard Of"
said Lieut.. Rockhill, that far away ooun-
try's most recent explorer. ITO begin
with, the tea they use comes from west
ern China In the shape of bricks, which
are pressed into such convenient shape
for carrying overland. All sorts of teas
are made into bricks for purposes of
transportation across Asia, it being very
well understood by connoisseurs in the
herb that sea trip spoils it. But the
tea imported into Tibet is of very poor
quality as a rule. There is in it as much
weight of twigs as of leaves.
Having pounded a portion of the
brick tea in some sort Of mortar, the
Tibetan housewife puts it in large cop
per vessel and there permits it to boil
over fire made from dry manure. The
resulting solution she pours into q queer
looking wooden ohurn through a coarse
willow basket that serves as a strainer.
To the liquid in the churn, before pro
ceeding further, she adds a portion of
butter and some salt The mixture is
then churned up in ordinary fashion,
and, when it is thoroughly mixed, is
poured into teapot of bronze. From
the teapot it is dispensed into the little
cup shaped vessels which each Tibetan
carries with him or her.
"The cup shaped vessel / refer to is
usually of wood, sometimes lined with
silver. Tlbetans employ it not only as
their sole drinking utensil, but also as q
dish for solid food. What they consume
mainly as a substantial diet is parched
barley. When a gentleman of Tibet feels
hungry he sits down and, taking from q
leather pouch a portion of barley, he
mixes little water with 1t, and, stirring
it up into a dough, eats 1t in that shape,
Thus hunger is satisfied, and he goes on
his way rejoicing. In what we call the
pleasures of the table the Tibetan takes
no stock whatever. There never was a
| typical Asiatic yet who cared anything
about amusement in the ordinary sense
of the word. He doesn't go to the theatre
there is no such institution in the land
of the lamas. Nor does he indulge In any
other rational enjoyment Of civilization
though he does not scorn what might bt
called the primary vices.
Tibet is very cold country, but iti
inhabitants do not warm themselves by
the consumption Of fuel. When the
weather is chilly they simply put ON more
clothes in proportion as the mercury
might fall, if there was a thermometer t
register the temperature by. Their gar
ments consist mainly for each individual
Of voluminous cloak, with sleeves and
a high collar, under which a shirt Il
sometimes worn. Boots, with soles oi
raw hide and uppers of cloth and cotton
are made for them in China. For rainy
days a circular cape OF felt is provided.
"The gun used by Hbetan has long
fork attached to 1t, which Is stuck in tbs
ground for use as a rest for the weapon
| Naturally the deadly instrument is OF
primitive pattern, Intended 10 be set of
with priming, and the native wears at
tached to his belt a number Of little
brass cones, each of them containing al
exact load OF gunpowder. Those people
of the country who live ON the great ele
waited plains or steppes dwell In blacl
tents; but the villagers reside usually II
two story stone houses, the lower story
being given up TO a stable for the cattle
Not all of Tibet. As is popularly supposed
is actually subject 10 China. The coup
try Is divided up, politically speaking
into many tribes, and not a few Of thes'
tribes ara governed by chiefs who owl
no allegiance 10 anybody-not even L
the Chinese emperor. " - Washington
Star