The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-19
A DIPLOMAT OF DARING.
william WOOdviIIe ROckhiII rs an
Explorer In Thibet.
From the Washington Post.

From the Washington Post
While the fame as an orientalist of Mr..
William woodville RoekhilI. who has Just
been appointed minister to Greece, is gen.
orally recognized by those interested in
such matters, comparatively few people
who see his name almost daily in the
newspapers in connection with the state
department news are aware that he is the
one American who has ever penetrated the
inhospitable desert wastes Of upper Thi-
bet. He is one of half dozen Caucasians
who have ever been inside the country at
all, and the two volumes on the subject
which have been written are interesting
as romances. The only reason they are not
more widely read is that they are both
rather large and expensive works, such as
find their way into only the more luxu-
rious private collections or are catalogued
as reference books in the public Libraries.
But Mr.. RockhilIs travels are interest
ing aside from any other reason, because
they furnish another successful example
of the man who has followed Fred. Hop
kinson Smiths advice and never did any
thing he did not want TO do" The author
Of Col Carter" gives that formula as
the explanation of his success, and the
same may be said of Mr. Rockhill. In each
case also he had money enough to be in
dependent and thus equipped, each pur-
sued his favorite occupation and while
enjoying the work itself made money and
fame beyond the measure of his contem-
poraries who started equally well equip
ped. but 20 whom work was work, and not
recreation.
MIR. Rockhill says himself that his hob
by was Thibet, always had been since he
was old enough TO know the difference
between the Great Lama and the South
American quadruped OF the same name.
Consequently, while still at college he be-
gan TO fit himself for his life work. TAX
ing up Chinese among several other OF
the modern languages. on leaving coll
lege, he shaped things TO his own end by
securing n post as assistant secretary OF
the legation at Picking. This was as far
back as 1884. For the next four years he
continued TO perfect himself In the Chi
nese language. and began the study OF
Thibetan. The chief obstacle to the lat
ter study was that he could find few who
knew the language who were willing to
teach n to foreign devil" the inhabl-
tants Of the Land Of the Sky being ever
on the alert against the possibilities OF
foreign invasion or even casual instru-
sion upon their centuries long secusion.
Finally he secured a teacher, an intelli-
gent lama, under whom he acquired the
language. Then IN 1SSs he started on his
first invasion OF the great mystery land
behind the Himalayas His first trip was
made disguised as Chinese priest, wear
Ing the yellow robe, the sandals and all
the other parnphernalia OF the cult,
His disguise would have fooled even a
Chinaman, for he spoke nuently both Thl-
betan ana Chinese, ana he knew the man
ncrs and habits OF the east perfectly. For
more than a year he wandered there aud
covered In that time more than a thousand
miles. lie learned much Of the topography
Of the country. rs literature legends and
its material resources.
Having thus laid a foundation and hay.