The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-03
They Are Very Initiative, Have n Sense
of Humor, Love Gambling and
Horse Racing.
THEIR WIVES ARE PURCHASED
WOMEN, HOWEVER, HAVE MUCH IN
FLUENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.
Their Religious Ideas and Customs
Suggest Those of American Indians
Queer Superstitions.
I"Among the Farthest People" Copyright


by w. G. j. Reid. J
IAnguistically. the Golok belong 10 the
Thibetan family. The similarity of their
speech to that prevalent in Thibet proper
is evident on the surface, but it is broken
up into so many distinct and even mutually
unintelligible dialects as to form a number
OF separate languages. The origin Of this
dissimilarity Of speech. however. may
readily be explained in the political and So
cial ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF the people and
their close contact with Thibetans, Mon
gols and Chinese. The result of this maze
Of conflicting tongues is, to say the least.
confusing, it being by no means uncom-
mon. even among tribes and communities
but a short distance removed from each
other, to find an almost undecipherable
difference in the employment OF even the
commonest nouns, such as a tree, stone or
the names Of domestic utensils. not
sure whether the Goloks have a written
language; / have never seen any traces
OF such existing-in fact, they are a sim
gularly untalkative people. and when wish
ing TO express a meaning are more apt to
use a suggestive (elthough TO a stranger,
practically unmeaning) gesture than by ex-
pressing the sentiment by word of mouth.
In their bartering they employ a dumb
language. similar 10 that in vogue among
the Thibetans, Of holding the fingers in
various positions and though it would
seem that such mode of conversation
must be necessarily limited it is astonish-
Ing to see the voluminous speech that
GOlok can make without uttering a single
syllable.
AS regards their mental and moral char
acter-so far as race can be character
lied in a few words-it may be said that
the Golok are, if not in the first rank of
savage races, not in the last, and that
though they want some Of the mental en-
dowments of the semi-civilized Thibetans,
they are free from many OF the vicious
traits of the latter. Their intelligence is
considerable, as their implements and folk
lore abundantly prove, and that they pos
sess certain traits of bravery may be in
ferred from their ability to exist for gen.
erations between aggressive and powerful
enemies on all sides of them and yet to
remain practically unconquered at the pres
ent day. They display a taste for music.
are passionately fond of dancing and sing
ing, display no small amount of humor
quick at picking up peculiar traits in
strangers and are painfully acute in de-
tecting the weak points or ludicrous side
lent mimics, and. what is perhaps not so
desirable, are likewise excellent gamblers,
not in moderation, but having the keenest
interest in speculation of all sort. On
numberless occasions have seen two men
cit down for hours and shake small dice
for the most trivial objects their every
movement watched by an excited group of
spectators. eager partisans who took such
an interest in the game that the inevitable
ending was a sanguinary brawl of no mean
dimensions. Horse racing is sometimes in
dulged in. but their animals are sorry
beasts, and the excellence of the perform
ance is judged more by the skill of the
horseman than by the speed qualities of his
mount.
LOW MORAL STANDARD.
Like most savage races the moral stand
ard of the Golok is not high. RIGHTEOUSNESS
and indecency far from being uncommon,
are rather the rule than the exception. The
women are especially erring; their extreme
laxity OF morals and their utter want of
shame are not more remarkable than the
entire absence of jealousy or self-respect on
the part of their husbands and relatives
InfractiOns Of the marital code are fire.
quent. but the Golok is a complainant hus-
band. and views the detection of a wife in
no more serious light than he would the
theft of cattle or other objects her equiva-
lent, and usually compromises the matter
by reseizing her or else obliging the rival
who has infringed on his rights to repay
him her full value. This is all the more
curious, since women. far from holding a
low position in the community, are treated
with considerable respect, and often have
a potent influence in matters touching the
general welfare. The women have control
within the house over the products of the
dairy and the chase. IL Is the mans duty
to build the house or tent herd the cattle
secure the game and fish used as food and
provide the skins and furs for clothing: but
ii is the woman who does what small cuIti-
walton is engaged in, churns the butter. If
any. collects and dries the dung for fuel.
makes the clothes, and must invariably be
consulted whenever any trading is to be
done The women also make the masa, or
beer. a bitter tasting liquid which is so
strong that a small quantity produces tenn
porary intoxication; this is fermented from
barley ripe plums and several species of
herbs. and is in great demand. not the least
business of the men in life appearing to be
constant visits to each other for the pur-
pose of exhausting their masa pots. For
tunately. IL is not very potent in its after
effects. but is sA'ong enough to inspire an
unduly happy feeling OF convivialty during
the process Of drinking IL.
The curious customs practiced by the
GolOks. and their numerous superstitious
beliefs. are in keeping with their savage
and untutored nature. One OF the strangest
Is the belief that the odor impaired by
clothing that has been worn by the lovers
Tin a literal. not a romantic sense) has
power TO excite love II a man is DESTROYS
OF winning a woman IL is only necessary
that. through the good Offices OF a friend.
he should bring the object OF his choice in
contact with some article of clothing that
has been worn by him, when the desired
result will be obtained. There are, however
no further elaborate ceremonial functions
IN the direct business OF marriage. Cupid
must here exist on short commons, since
mammOn enjoys a clear field and need ask
no favors The mar DESTROYS OF securing a
wife either steals one from a neighboring
tribe or village else purchases one in
his own encampment. POlygamy and
polyandry are coexistant. the number Of
wives a man may own depending altogether
on the means which he possesses 10 pur-
chase a supply OF these household adjuncts,