The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-15
MISSIONS In THE
HERMIT KINGDOM
The Work of MIR. w. w. Simpson
Among the Natives of 1hibet.
RELIGION OF The LLAMAs.
Peculiar Traits OF These People.
Their Hospitality, Their Occu-
pa,ions-Thc Trials OF
The Missionary.
RELIGION OF THE LLAMAs.

Among the ministers VINO 'naNe peeti
conducting the Christian Alliance meet
ing at Centenary Methodist OF TINS ci1y
during the past week, is Rev W. w
Eimpson. a missionary, who has just re-
turned 10 the. United States. after "a four
years soiourn in Tablet. lie is a young
man of pleasing address and appearance,
and is a good speaker. During the meet
inps RECENTLY held here he told the con-
srrecatiou of the work that is being done
by himself and felow-laborers IN me
land of which the outside world knows
little 'or nothing.
SO situated Is this country and such are
the customs of its Inhabitants that but
the exception of Chinese and Mahonlme-
dan traders.
Mr.. Simpson was sent out in 1892 as
missionary 10 Tibet by the Christian
and Missionary Alliance OF New YORK
City. He went direct TO China, as it was
his intention and that of his comrades TO
begin their work on the northeastern
boundaries Of the Chinese Empire, as
Thibet Is tributary to China, and mat
on the southern boundary Of Thibet is
the lofty aIimalaya range, which can
only be raised in midsummer.
STUDIED THE LANGUAGE.
On arriving al l'eking, they spent year
ana half in learning the Chinese IAN
suage and about eight months hin mas
te-ing the language of The Thinetans.
which is allied to lsanscrit. They then
started their long journey of 400 miles
across China, and after many. months ar
rived at the borders of Hermit King
DOM
The party, which consisted of five men
and three women, did not at once cross
the border. but established themselves in
a Chinese village in ISransu. 10 which the
Thibetans of the immediate neighborh2od
came from their villages to trade. Here
they opened mission house, but TO their
dismay they found that the language
which they had learned was the writ
ten language Of the country. and bore
about the same relation to the spoken
language as classical Latin does TO mod
ern Italian. They became acquainted with
a Llama, one of the rulers Of that dis
;rict. who was the head of monastery,
and who agreed 10 teach them the spoken
language They removed their lodging TO
this monastery and mastered the Ian
ruage They also read the Thibetan
classics and religious books.
THE RELIGION.
The religion of Thibet is a form of
Buddhism. differing very little from that
of India The head of the Church ana
Government is vested in the Grand Llama,
the chief of whom resides in L.hosa, the
capital of central Thibet. There are three
other Grand Llamas-one in Thibet, an
other in Mongolia and one in Picking,
hut the Llama of Lhasa is the recognized
head. The Ilamas are. according 10 the
religion, the incarnation of the disciples
of I.udtiha, who were with him when he
was on earth, but who, for their compass
sion upon man and his fallen estate, de-
cided to remain upon earth and spread
Budhha's teachings. The religion also
has priests. but the difference between a
priest and a Llama is that the Llama can.
at will, enter into the Buddhist heaven.
while the priest is but an ordinary man.
The doctrines teach the transmigration of
the soul When a Llama dies the soul is
at once reincarnated in some other body
ana continues 10 aid man and torule the
Kingdom The, people of Thibet Pelieve
absolutely everything that the Elatnas
say.
THE WORK BBSuN.
Having completed in some degree their
study OF the Thibetan language. Mr..
Simpson and his party began their work
and reopenel the mission station in the
village They became acquainted with
these peculiar people. and were invited
TO pay visit in the native villages across
the border.
FI0CUI1AHilS CUSTOM.
Hospitality In the hermit Kingdom is
very peculiar. AS long as one is a
stranger, he Is entitled 10 no considera-
ton. but as soon as an acquaintance has
been made and the stranger has beer
invited to and has visited them. he Is
entitled to every consideration. and the
host IS In honor bound TO protect his
person and property. In order to make
the required visit. the guest has to bring
with him some present usually a few
pods OF red pepper or some other small
gift. This mus. be accompanied by the
scarf OF ceremony. which is a small
piece Of cloth with fringe at either end
{ Having become acquainted with these ma
tires who live in villages. Nj. Simpson
and his party m ade other friends among
the Thibetans. and travelled along The
border land, pre- ching. to tsaeh persons as
came to them, but never forcing any con,