The times., 1901-06-10
THE EXPLORATION OF TIBET.
DR.. Laufer's Venture for the New
York Natural History Museum.

NEW YORK, June 9.-Of this seasons
scientific expeditions that undertaken by
Berthold Laufer. Phi. D., on behalf Of the
Museum of Natural History. promises to
be the most dangerous. Lhassa. the
Sacred City of Tibet, is his goal Eth
noIogicaI researches in China will be his
work for the museum, and they involve
the exploration of Tibet DR.. Laufer viii
be absent for at least three years. He
will start as soon as he completes the
correction of proofs for a monograph
soon TO be published by the museum. This
work treats of The Decorative Arts of
the Amoor Tribes in Northern Siberia.
The collection of pictures from which
the Illustrations Of this monograph have
been made was gathered for the museum
during the authors Awo years residence
in that region
at something of the real life Of the Chi
nese people. This will not be easy Just
now, in view of the unsettled conditions
in China, and l shall not attempt TO make
any definite plans until l am able 70 sur
Vty the field. l only know that snail
first 90 to PekiH With general idea or
the Mongolian languages, / nope, by
dressing as do the people, to become one
of them, ard 10 know them more inti-
mately than political agents and MISSION
DR.. Laufer is still young IN spite of his
TeUUt4llUE. vigorous anu esNAlitl4N. ASNAL
in Cologne, he studied first in Berlin, and
then matriculated at the University OF
Ieipsic where he took the degree IN phi
losOphy in 1896. Having hrst Studled law
he devoted himself to Oriental languages,
Sanscrit Tibetau and Chinese especially.
And he is the author of several texts IN
these tongues. Buddhism has been an es-
pecially attractive study % hin- ana
short residence in Japan has enabled MN
TO obtain an fdea<of its practical work
iugs. as well as of its theological aspects
when the work for the museum is
complete" said Dr. Laufer I nope TO
spcnd a year in one of the Tibetau lam
aserfes of which there are several IN
Pekin and then go into Tibet itself IhuS
far the explorations OF Mr.. RockhlIl the
present Special Commissioner TO China,
give the only authentic data We have con-
cerniug this country.
How about Mr.. Savage Iandor!
DR. I.aufer smilingly intimated that Mr..
Landor was an adventurer rather than
a scientific observer; and added that ne
still maryeled that man could survive
the horrible torture described IN MT Ian
doris book. He thinks that a translation
of Tfbetau verse, which Landor gives
bears internal evidence OF Caucasian orr
gin. --..,,-
hope for" said DIR. Laufer, is to obtain
in complete form an old Tlbetdn epic
uocm OF which l already have a rag
ment, which Will be of immense NaI9e IN
giving a clue to the early history of the
people 1t was written, l presume, some
tim. in the seventh century Of our era,
but it treats Of an earlier period. The
subject is d war with the Chinese, and
the fact that the Chinese were defeated
may account for the suppression of the
book, which is sure to be preserved IN
some Of the monasteries-'
How do you account for the cesem-
bIance between certain of the Tibetan
religious CeremOntals which have been de-
scribed and those of the older Christian
denominations" was asked of DR.. Laufer.
To the fact that Christianity really is,
TO some extent eugrafted on the Bud
dhism of the Tibetaus. The HISTORIAN
Christians at one time exerted a most
powerful influence in the Far East, and
have no doubt that many ceremonials
as well as some tenc1s of faith still bear
testimony to this / have no theories 10
advance on the subject at present how
ever. The scientific method is to first get
your facts and then build your theories
Disguised as a pilgrim. speaking the liv-
ing dialects, and understanding sacred
books Of the people. DR.. Laufer has, in
opinion of his colleagues both here and
abroad better chance of coming out of
Tibet alive and of bringing new stores
of knowledge with him than any of the
adventurous spirits who have attempted
THE Forbidden Land