The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-26
THE MAN WHO
WILL ENTER L'HASSA

IL 10 Hot uiIHcuIt 10 account Tor the In
terest which the vast region of Thibet al
ways has excited among geographers. eth
nologists and the student of mankind in
general. 1t is the most unknown region
of the earth. In the last quarter of a CEN
tury narrow fringe extending around it's
extreme borders has been visited by explo-
rers. but of the immense central area
with its mysterious sacred city of L'hassa,
we know absolutely nothing, excepting
what meagre information has been gained
from native sources, in general so vague
and uncertain as to possess little or no sci
entiic or geographical value.
The remoteness of these regions, their al
most absolute inaccessibility, the enormous
hardships required to overcome the for
midable physical obstacles and unquencha-
Bile hostility of the natives themselves, and,
lastly, Chino-Thibetan exclusiveness, have
prevented more than few travellers from
undertaking the herculean task of explora-
ton. None of these efforts have been sue
cessful in their primary purpose-penetrat-
ing the sacred city itself.
WILLIAM JAMESON REID.
The last twenty-five years have been re-
markedly prolific In attempts to penetrate
Thibet to L'hassa, but the plan of opera
llOuS HAS SWeTNeQ III most cases little from
the beaten path of eXplora ton; that of es-
saying by means of large expeditions,
peacefully If possible, II not by more vigor-
Gus means, to push into the country openly
and without attempts of concealment of
any sort.
OF the many attempts already made the
most creditable Is that of Henry Savage
Lander, who returned to civilization after
the nearest approach to the sacred city
that has yet been made, and who has added
materially to our knowledge of scientific
facts concerning Thibet Yet as detailed
in his own rrative there Is little or moth
ing to show that In his expedition he
branched out in any direction from those
beaten paths that had been followed by
those who had gone before, save that ne
adopted a native guise, which, as subse
quent events proved, was worse than use
less, and brought down upon his head hos
tility and the anger of the native priests.
WHY LANDOR WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.
Mr. Lander did not profit by the expert
ence of those explorers who have sought
to perform the same feat for the last hun
bred years, but he had implicit faith in the
powers belonging to a large expedition.
This, Immediately he had penetrated into
the country. was sufficient to make known
the fact of his approach, and from the out
set heap In his path obstacles that. events
proved, could not lightly be brushed aside.
In the second place, he naturally fell into
the knowledge of facts by the Turing appa-
rition of shortness of distance and sup
posed celebrity of communica ton. L'hassa,
in the southern part of Thibet, and within
near approach of the northern border of
India, seems near to India. But the Thib-
etans, with all the native races of Central
Asia share in the ever-increasing dread of
foreign encroachment They view with
alarm the spread of British dominance In
the country to the SOUTH Their lamas, or
priests, who in reality form the governing
class of the country with their usual
astuteness, have a full knowledge of the
fact that the day is not far distant when
their own dominions shall also be absorbed,
but they are bound at all hazards to stave
1t off as long possible. In Landors case
the result was Immediately apparent, as
notice of his approach was carried imme-
diately to the sacred city by spies, result
ing in the defeat of his plan at the outset
which likewise would nullfy the most in
trepid attempt on the same lines.
I shall take with me only half dozen
native Kiangsis, who enjoy an enviable rep
utation in China, being perfectly trust
worthy and loyal under whatever contin-
gency, proofs of which I have had in my
own personal experience. These shall use
for the main work in hand although my
primary expedition will be larger, thirty or
forty men.
Although entailing long and tedious
Journey, nearly ten times the length of that
which would be necessary from the north
ern border of India. my approach to L'has-
sa will be made through western China.
In this manner ! shall escape the rigid
scrutiny and infallible chances of detection
of those coming from India, the Thib-
etans having little to fear from aggression
in this direction, would enable one to APP
proach even in ordinary circumstances
much nearer to the sacred city than heres
tofore. This, although requiring vast ex-
penditure of time and energy, is well re-
warded by the comparative absence of dan
ger
WILL KEEP HIS MOUTH CLOSED.
Mr.. Landors experience and my own
show that it is in the first place manifest
impossibility to speak the language the
natives themselves do, even though one
knows it colloqually and is able to UNDER
stand and make himself understood. There
fore, l have adopted the happy expedent
of not asserting my knowledge of the lam
guago at all, but from the time of my en-
trance in the L'hassa country to become as
silent as the sphinx.
L'hassa being the religious center of the
Countrywide residence of the Grand Lama
himself and the principal shrine of Budd-
hism---is naturally the place for pilgrimage
for the wandering priests and penitentia5