Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-12-23
PARKWAY THIBET.
AN ISOLATED AND UNKNOWN
REGION IN ASIA.
Early Home of the Human Race
PecuIiarities of Its People
- strangers Are Not
Welcome There.
is sometimes called the

Switzerland of Asia on account
i of its mountains, which domin-
ate the entire continent. 1t is
the source of the two great rivers OF
China, the Hoang-ho and the Yang-tse-
Kiang, and also the Mekong and Ira
wadda, which flow southwark through
Farther India into the Indian Ocean. Re-
mote and almost inaccessible, it is rarely
visited by Europeans, aud of these only
by persons who have a mania for travel
or 90 there in the interests of science.
The climate is one of the most forbid
ding in the world, owing to the great
altitude of the entire country. The sum-
mer is extremely brief everywhere, and
in certain districts it freezes every night
in the year. Only in some OF the south'
ern valleys in the Hmalaya5 is the sum-
mer sufficiently long aud warm to per-
nit of the maturing of few fruits. Bar
lev grows in the limited region about
Lhasa devoted to agriculture, and wheat
is raised to a small extent. From two
to three months Of summer Is all that
the greater part of the country can boast,
with hardly any graduation OF the sea-
sons that can be called spring or autumn.
In a country where the census is un-
known accurate estimates of the popu'
lation are impossible, but the inhabi-
tants number, probably, between 4, ,OOO,-
600 and 5 900, 900, made up of the origi-
nal race, whose origin is unknown, wish
additions and mixtures from all sides,
India, China, Mongolia, but especially
from the latter region, which seems to
have furnished the principal ethno- -
graphic types.
The Government OF Thibet is theoc
racy, the ruler or king being the Grand
Lama or high priest of BUDDHISM, who
resides at Lhasa and has his palace on
sacred mountain in the suburbs. His
administration is maintained throughout
the country by subordinate lanas placed
over the provinces. Justice is rendered
in manner somewhat primitive, but
which is sufficient, considering the gentle
character of the people. The ordinary
tribunal is composed OF three judges,
and sits while the shops are open. There
is a sort of superior court to which ap-
peal is made if necessary. The Grand
Lama formerly had the pardoning
power, but it was taken from him, 50
far as criminal matters were concerned,
on account Of its iudscriminate use.
The mercantile class is numerous aud
composed chiefly of Chinese, with
foreign contingents frou Cashmere and
India. Like all the countries in Asia,
Thibet has its little lesson to in
part on the Chinese QUESTION. The
agricultural class is principally native
and is established in the southern and
more fertile valleys. The shepherds
live in tents and pasture their aocks OF
yake, sheep and goats on the grassy
sides of the hills and mountains in the
region that slopes down toward the
great lakes in the west of China. The
class Of beggars is numerous. It's made
up OF persons ruined in commerce, or by
taxes. or Of the naturally lawless, and
infests all the great routes to such an
extent that traders and travellers are
forced to journey in bands or with
sufficient escort. The country abound5
in metals, especially in silver and iron.
From the last are made swords, spears
and guns of a considerable degree of cx-
cellence. Precious stones are found,
and although they are highly priced the
skill is wanting to cut them properly.
The mines all produce zinc, gold, copper
and borax. Hides, horns aud skins
naturally constitute an important article
of trade, with the wool Of sheep aud
the hair Of goats, of which shawls are
made in Cashmere.
The Thibetsns are less supple than the
Chinese but OF larger frame. They pre-
sent the Mougolian characteristics in
general-square head, angular chin,
black hair and eyebrows, eyes horizon
tally set or slightly oblique, prominent
cheeks, dilated nostris and straight fore
heads. The complexion is dark and of
healthy color. Though the race seems
TO be a branch of the Mongolian, the
character and language differ essentially.
The dress in city aud country is almost
universally Of sheepskin, lined with poo
hoo in the case OF the more wealthy.
Silks come more and more into fashion
AZ trade with China and other countries
develops. The hat is Of felt, with large
brim attached by a cord passing under
the chin. Shoes, as in China, are usu-
ally made of cloth, aud are of different
colors. The women wear a short woolen
vest over the chest, covered with a sort
of loose garment, aud pettcoat fastened
at the waist. A box containing an anu
let is tied about the neck. The hair OF
the women is worn in long braid fall
ing down the back. That Of men is long
and fails about the shoulders, though
some incline to follow the Chinese fash.
ion. Neither the persons nor the houses
Of the people are kept clean. They
never wash themselves and take bath
only once year on lucky day in Octo-
Der. The women enjoy great freedom.
1t is precept of their relig igion, estsb.