The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-09-19

A Traye,er,s Marvellous Account of Tibet
Published in a Chinese Paper.
A Chinese newspaper published in
Hong Kong gives the following marvel
GUS account of Tibet which it says it
has received from a Eecent traveller in
that country, and publishes at his re-.
quest. Tibet. he says, is designated
Buddha's country, and in it there are
lofty, cloud-piercing galleries Of prec-
ious things, and buildings of 3ade,
from which the sound of Pail talk and
ringing of bells flow in harmony
through forests and valleys. In one
part there grows the tree of perennial
spring, and in another part is the
heaven of perpetual youth. At Lhassa
there are four temples where the Dalai
Lama is enthroned and where he strolls
about and enjoys himself These tenn
Piles are palatia1 in size and very beauti-
full, with the dazzling splendor of gold
and jade.
In Ulterior Tibet are to be seen
three temples where the Banchin Lama
is enthroned. There the writing is
all in Pail and is interpreted accord
ing to the Pail sounds. There also a
nine-storied pagcda, which contains
an image of Buddha looking grave
and stern among the the seven precious
things, towers high into the air. These
temples, which are surrounded by frag-
rant olive trees and grape vines plant.
ed and trained to lntertwine and make
deep shade contain strange things
from foreign lands. The common be-
lief is that the Banci1iR Lama is a re.
embodiment of Kizkang. obtained,
after over ten years employed in cul-
t;vatlng wisdom. perfecting himself,
deeping the prccepts, renewing and
purifying the heart, thoroughly mas
tering the religious canons, and alb.
staining from dissipation. The Dalai
Lama and the Bslnchin Lama are both
able to foretell births and deaths and
future events, and are also aCla to
solve all doubts and difiicul les of the
future.
All Tibctans slain in battle are
honored by the people with offerings
of sweet-scented flowers. They
salute their superiors by taking Oft
their hats aud thrusting out their
tongues three times. The people say
the climate differs every few miles.
The punlshmants are very severe. No
matter whether the crime be grave or
trivial, the matter great or small, all
offenders, when caught, are tied up in
a dark room with al theirlimbs bound
and kept there until dragged out fol-
trial Sentences of death arc carried
out by binding the criminal to q pillar
and shooting at him with muskets and
bows in a contest for drink, by taking
him to Il cave swarming with scorpions
and allowing the latter to sting him,
or by handing him over to be divided
and eaten by the savages of the U
country. They put their dead in Gags
made of hides, which they sus.
pend for seven days from the ridge
poles of their dwellings, while Lama
priests chant the liturgy, and after
ward they are carried to mountain
peaks, where the flesh is cut into slices
and thrown to the dogs to eat; this is
called the earth interment. The bones
are pulverized, made into pills about
the size of beans, and given to eagles
to eat; this is called sky interment.
The sick do not take medicine, but are
placed in the scorching heat Of the
sun. with their bodies daubed all over
with butter. Referring, in conclusion,
to the recent war in Sikkim the writer
says that the inhabitants have almost
been annihilated in war with India,
''but happily the high imperial minis
ter, Shing Chuh Shan, has gone forth
to restore harmony"