The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-09-03
ONLY AUTHENTIC LHAsA THE FORBIDDEN CITY,
lFTom skeleh BY native artIstl

the almost impossible Himalayl
Mountains. and on the west by Kash
mir. The mountain range on the soutl
separates rhlbet from British India
and Eastern Turkestan separates 1
from Russia. The country. which be
came subject TO China early IN the aey
enteenth century. contains the sources
Of the Yang-tse-Kiang. the Indus and
other large rivers. and the country Is
for the most part a high tableland.
The reasons why Thibet should be
called "The Unknown Ian" have been
reinforced and more vividly Impressed
upon the Western mind within the last
tive years BY the bloodcurdling nara.
tive Of torture which was brought back
to bis government BY Savage Landor
ln 1899 Mr.. Landor's experiences also
serve to remind the world at large that
unlike any other country. even in Asia.
at the present day, Thlbet is under
what may be said to correspond In
some fashion 10 the Christian idea Of
theocracy--a government IN which the
religious hierarchy also wields despotic
temporal power. Such as 1t is, the re-
ligion OF the country Is the prime mo-
tive Of an It's life whether for good or
evil Il have iounged through Asia
Minor. lived In almost every country
IN Europe. ransacked India from Co
morin to the Himalayas. and become
fairly well acquainted with China %
said a veteran Scotch traveller, but
nowhere IN the world have seen a
people 50 wrapped up in what they
considered to be religion as In Thibet'
This religion. with the always neces-
sary Asiatie exception Of certain Mo-
hammedans IN the western parts. is a
highly idolatrous corruption Of Budd-
hism. But, In order to get a reason
ably lively conception Of the peculiar-
ties and the intensity OF Thibeian
Buddhism, some idea OF the country
Itself Is necessary.
The bula of Thibet is the Chang. or
Great Thibetan Plateau. the highest as
well as the largest tableland on the
earth. AS to area. Il occupies an the
central and northern and most Of the
western sections Of the country. An
idea o. It's elevation may best be OBJ
tained from the statement Of Captain
Hamilton Bower. one OF the most
highly regarded Of recent authorities.
from the end OF June until the mid
de OF November the average attitudes
Of our camps was over 1900 feet, the
lowest being 1881. and the highest
1880 feet" OF the climate the same
explorer says NO amount Of wool
en clothes viii keep out the wind on
the Chang so skins must be taken.
During the period already referred to
the enormous stretch Of country
crossed by Captain Bowers party dld
not show a single tree and only two
species OF shrubs. and these rarely ex-
ceeded SIX inches % height They
found q large number Of Towering
plants and grasses. however. while for
variety the landscape both on the
Chang and elsewhere, IS diversified in
many places by gigantic masses OF rock
and terrific precipices This is. IN
fact what in poeticaiiy known IN
Asia as the Roof Of the world. and
a. the southwest corner Of Il. at Gfgit
On the borders Of Kashmir. IS the place
Where Three Empires Meet. the title
q Mr. knights work.
The hideoHsness or subiimity-ac-
cordine 10 the view one takes--of ma
iure on the Chang. and IN other parts
Of Tablet Is not Jeff to itself As IN
the Tyroi ana other Catholic countries
one sees varsids crosses and pie
tures1re shrines. 50 in Tibet only
fsr more frequent are the huge rock
cal images Walc1 are supposed 70 rep (
resent the Baddha the "chortens" or