The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-31

would seem moro liable of practical at
tainment from that country than else
| where. This would be true were it no
| for several untoward conditions which
initiate against the advantages that may
be held out by its geographically shor
distance from comparative civilization.
! In dress Lander, doubtless merely judg.
| ing by the usual public prints on Chinese
| physical traits, adopted that stereotyped
habiliment known to those who have wit.
| messed the native of the eastern provinces
within the pale of comparative civilization
a dress that would be as alien in Thibet
| as that of a Partisan boulevarder. Very
| few natives wear the head shaved and
| the queue, but rather have it piled in i'm
mense masses, hanging down their faces
| and over their shoulders $3.50
This attempt to appear in the role of a
| Thibetan native. instead of being an as
| sistance, was portentious danger and
| caused dire results. Hal Landor utilized
the disguise of dirty and filthy Thibetan
! as he really exists there can be no doubt
that his success would have been greater,
the open artifciality of the dress he did
| assume being at once apparent.
These, to my mind, are the most potent
reasons that detracted from Landor's sue
cess, any one of which would have in
evitable caused failure, but which taken
in conjunction, made his success mani
fesly impossible.
In laying the plans for my own arrange
ments, 1 have fully weighed all these con-
siderations and others of minor import
which my explorations heretofke in this
country have presented to me, and have
become fully convinced that nothing save
a radical departure from the methods here
tofore attempted will enable me TO sue
coed. Although before the time Of my de-
parture 1 shall doubtless make some
changes in this program. the plan which
have carefully weighed for years may be
here briefly outlined.
Primarily, I am an opponent to the be-
lief of strength in numbers. I shall take
with me only half dozen native Klangsie
who enjoy an enviabIe reputation in
China being perfectly trustworthy and
loyal under whatever contingency may
arise. proofs of which / have had in my
own personal experience. These 1 shall
use for the main work in hand, although
my primary expedition will be larger,
numbering from thirty 10 forty men.
Although entailing long and tedious
journey, nearly ten times the length Of
that which would be necessary from the
northern border of India, my approach
TO L hasa will be made through western
China by penetrating as far as possible up
the current of the Yang-tse-Kiang in
boats. In this manner 1 shall escape the
rigid scrutiny and infallible chances Of
detection of those coming from India, as
the Thibetans, having little to fear from
aggressions in this direction. would ena-
bic one TO approach even under ordinary
circumstances much nearer to the sacred
city than has heretofore been attained.
This, although requiring q vast expendi-
ture Of time and energy. is well rewarded
by the comparati tive absence Of danger.
Ny own experience and that of Mr.. Ian
dor show that It is in the first place a man
ifest impossi biiity to speak the language
as the natives themselves de, even though
one knows il oolloquially and IS able 70
understand and make himself understood
Therefore 1 have adopted the happy ex-
pedient in ttAs case Of not asserting my
knowledge OF the language at all. bu,
from the time OF my approach IN the
I hasa country 10 become as silent as the
tomb.
L'hassa being the reIigsous center 81 the
countryside residence OF the Grand Lama
himself and the principal shrine OF Budd--
hism-.s naturally the place for pilgrimage
for the wandering priests and peui;eutisi
natives. 1t is the custom for these reJig
sous mend.cants 20 torture themselves II
the rno$t abomlnable manner b. running
q rod through each cheek or by folding the
lips tightly together by iron rings. Whiun
prevents their talking Or eating. They
are held IN great vene-asion by the na-
tives themselves. and. the country being
ove-rua with than. x IS impossible 70 tel
one from the other.
L IS .: this latter fact thz, intend 70
take advantage BY having false rings
made fer me PRO. 70 ny eepa-gU-s, sss