The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-09


our Grand To these reproaches they an
swered with sheepish grins. and doubtless
blushed with shame. provided one could
have seen through the incrusting epidermis
of dirt on their faces; finding the occasion
not one conducive to agreeable converse
ton. they Immediately departed in high
dudgeon.
AN UNATTRACTIVE REPAST.
Anxious to cement the bonds of friend
ship we presented the head man with
musket and several ounces of silver. when
his demonstrations of gratitude waxed so
fulsome that we began TO entertain doubts
as to the wisdom of this generosity. His
bodily contortions and the constant stick
ing out of the tongue which he INDUCED in
were almost painful to look at; he wriggled
the skin of his attenuated frame with such
doglike vehemence that we looked at him
in amazement. When the first transports
Of JOY had subsidized nothing would satisfy
him but that should take up our future
residence in his abode, long, rambling
structure built of stones and mud. occupy
ing a slight eminence in the center OF the
village, and the residence of a numerous
family of married sons and daughters
seemingly loath TO quit the paternal ROOF.
Like most structures of its kind in this
country, where the inhabitants seem de-
sirous of eating many times the requisite
peck of dirt allotted TO mankind. in addi-
ton to the wholesale quantities externally
applied, the interior was indescribabiy
filthy. and it required considerable tact TO
explain our preference for camping i'm our
tents. We were not able, however, TO es-
cape before he had imposed on us sub
stantial repast consisting of broiled yak
meat, fowls bread and enormous bowls of
bitter. rancid tea, in which Jumps of butter
fioated as extra delicacies. In spite of his
earnest desire to gorge us 10 the extremes
limit we contented ourselves with furtive
sips and swallows, for the very good and
sufficient reason that the difficulty of
breathing inside the foul and close air OF
the room required the full extent of our
threats.
Our tardy efforts were not lost on our
host; discovering that our appetites were
satisfied before he had really begun TO eat
he suspended his gluttonous forays suffi-
GENTLY to inquire if men in our country
never ate more than us, as some previous
trader had informed him that white men
never ate food of any kind, excepting a
courtesy TO their host
Not wishing to wound his delicacy of
feeling by confessing the real reason,
namely, squeamishness over the func-
ton, we answered in the affirmative when,
with a droll look in his wizened face and
a mysterious smacking of the hps, he gave
us to understand the advantages which a
well-provided Thibetan or Mongol enjoys
over his civilized prototype of more favored
lands Evidently at this moment he would
not have exchanged positions with feast
less king on his throne, and, in truth, IL
does not take a protracted sojourn In
Thibet to acquaint with the fact that
there is more truth than fallacy in the ma
tive adage that on earth Buddha left but
one Joy TO mankind in all this vale of tears
the heaven-born privilege of eating" Ac-
cording to Christian doctrines, we believe
that angels and those goodly souls who at
tain post-mortem felicity are obliged TO
forget such commonplaces as gastronomy.
The Thibetan is more practical, for. &C
cording to his reasoning. If eating is the
most desirable luxury of earthly and heav-
enly existence, why should the deities, II
they are all powerful deny themselves this
possible bliss? And echo answers why