Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-14
LIFE IN PARKWAY TIBET.
Things In That Strange Land rs Repre-
sented by the Latest Explorer.

1.-THE people Of Tibet have the funniest way
of making tea you ever beard Of" said Lieut.
Rockhili, that PARKWAY countrys most rece mt
explorer, to STAR reporter. ITO begin with,
the tea they use comes from western 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 pur-
poses Of transportation across Asia, it being
very well understood by connoisseurs in the
herb that q sea trip spoils it. But the tea i'm
ported into Tibet is Of very poor quality as a
rule. There is in it a. much weight of twigs
as Of leaves.
Having pounded q portion Of the brick tea
In some sort of mortar, the Tibetan housewife
puts II In large copper vessel and there per-
mits 1t to boil over fire made from dry
manure. fhe resulting solution she pours
into queer-looking wooden churn through a
coarse willow basket that serves O strainer
To the liquid in the churn, before proceeding
further, she adds portion OF butter and some
salt The mixture is then churned up in
ordinary fashion and, when il is thoroughly
mixed, is poured into tea pot of bronze
From the tea pot it is dispensed into the little
cup-shaped vessels which each Tibetan carries
with him or her.
ONE Dish FOB EvERyTHISa.
''The cup-shaped vessel refer 10 is usually
OF wood, sometimes lined with silver. Tibetans
employ it not only their sole drinking uten-
sil, but also as dish for solid food wha: they
consume mainly as a substantial di =: is parched
barley. When a gentleman OF lib q feels hun
Cry he sits down and, taking from q leather
pouch portion of barley, he mi ,es q little
water with 1t, and, stirring II mp into q dough
eats 1t III that shape. Thus hunger 10 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 q
typical Asiatic yet who cared anything abou,
amusement in the ordinary sense Of the word
He doesn't 60 to the thester-there is no such
Institution IN the land Of the lamas- Nor doe,
he indulge in any other rational enjoyment oil
civilization, though he does not scorn what
might be called the primary vices.
HABITS OF THE PEOPLE
Tibet il very cold country. but its inhabit-
ants do not warm themselves by the consumption
offuel When the weather is chilly they simply
put on more clothes in proportion as the mer-
curry might fall, il there was thermometer to
register the temperature by. Their garments
consist mainly for each individual o. a yoiu.
minous cloak with sleeves and a high collar
under which shirt 10 sometimes worn. Boots
with soles OF rsw-hide and uppers OF cloth and
cotton, are made for them in China. For rainy
Gays q circular cape Of felt is provided The
eun USED by fioetan has long fork attached
70 IL, which IL stuck in the ground for use as 4
rest for the weapon Naturally. the deadl,
instrument Is Of primitive pattern INTENDED
TO be set on with q printing and the native
wears attached to his belt a number of it'll.
brass cones, each Of them containing an exac
load of gunpowder. Those people of tn.
country who live on the great elevated plain
or steppes dwell in black tents; but the villa
gers reside usually in two-story stone houses
the lower story being given up to a stable TO
the cattle. Not all Of Tibet, as is popularl,
supposed, is actually subject to China. Tn
country is divided up, politically speaking, int
many tribes, and not few Of these tribes ar
governed by chiefs who owe no allegiance +
anybody-not even TO the Chinese emperor"