The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-07-02
LEARNS SECRETS
OF THIBETANS
RUSSIAN SPENDS A YEAR IN THE
SACRED MONASTERGEs IN THE
CITY OF LHASSA.

CITY OF LHASSA.
\ Russian subject, G. Il. zoubkov,
has just returned to st. Petersburg
from Thibet, where he spent a
year in Lhassa visiting the sacred
monasteries, NJ. zoubkov is a member
OF the Buddhist sect known as Bouriats
and being familiar with the Thibetan
language, found no difficulty in passing
for a Lama. He brought back many
photographs Illustrating the life of the
country and will publish book
In the summer of 1900 NJ. Zoubikov
entered Thibet from the north as a
member of caravan of seventy pill
erims, including many Lamas He
approached Central Thibet by the
Boumza mountain road. which led
through a treeless alpine landscape
with snow-capped mountains extending
east to west in parallel chains. 4 thin
nomad population was found. Only
within sixty or seventy miles of Lhassa
was an agricultural community reach
ed. The climate is harsh and dry.
Snow falls occasionally from December
to March; rain from May to August;
April, September october and Nov
ember are dry. The mean annual tenn
perature is AZ, 67 and so degrees Fab
renheit for morning, noon and night,
respectively; for December II, "a and
q degrees; for July 60, 81 and Go de-
grees.
The population which has at times
been estimated at 100000. is probably
one-t tenth that number. 1t is decreas-
ing through disease, especially small
pox, and on account of the large num-
Der of celibate priests
The sons of Chinese soldiers and mer-
chants temporarily resident in Thibet
are counted Chinese, the daughters
Thibetans. Other foreign residents
are Indians, from Cashmere, Mongo-
lians and Nepaulese, the latter being
skilled artisans, architects. sculptors
and jewelers.. The Cashmere Moham-
medans are traders. They usually
convert their Thbetan wives.
Almost all the land in Central Thibet
belongs to the Dalai Lama. Only high
officials in Lhassa have hereditary
homes. The Thibetan houses are of
brick and stones, but have chimneys
only in the kitchen. The other rooms
have holes to let the smoke escape and
are cheerlessly cold.
The common people wear white, the
wealthy red, officials yellow and SOL
diers blue clothing of homespun. Jewels
are worn in great abundance by the
women. Barley, meal, soup the raw
flesh of the yak and of sheep butter,
sour milk and vegetables are the prin-
cipal articles of food. Wheat spirits
sell for a cent a bottle. The men
smoke tobacco and the priests take
snuff
The people 'of Central Thibet are pas
sionately attached to their religious OBJ
servances, which are purely formal.
prayers are regarded as of magic po-
tency and figure in all ordinary and ex-
traordinary affairs of life. Medicine is
in small popular favor Morals are
primitive and marriage ties are loose
Both polygamy and polyandry are COM
mon.
Agriculture and stock raising are the
principal employments. Wheat, barley
peas beans, cattle, sheep, yaks horses
asses and mules are the main products
Labor is cheap, men being paid OF
3 cents a day, while women usually la
Dor for their keep" Even a Lama
receives only 10 cents for a whole days
prayers.
Lhassa is small, having at most only
10000 regular inhabitants. 1t is, how.
ever, an important trade center. The
native traders are all women.
NJ. Zoubikov infinitely describes va
ricus monasteries and temples, includ-
ing three near Lhassa, where 5000
monks are mainly engaged in learned
pursuits. At one of these, Brabun
nearly 5000 boys, young men and even
gray bearded patriarchs, are studying
theology. the total number of resident
monks being 5000.
Since the fifteenth century all power
civil and spiritual, has been nominally
in the hands of the Dalai Lama, but
China maintains a Manchu residente
and an army. The Lama is elected by
the Manchu residente. who with a staff
picks the name of one boy from three
placed in an urn. The boy is educated
by a council of learned men and as
sumes power when he reaches the age
of % years The present Dalai Lama is
q years old.
The Dalai Lama's council in whose
hands the actual authority mainly
rests, embraces four gallons" appoint
ed by the Emperor of China.
The administration is in the hands
of closed aristocracy and bribery and
corruption are nearly universal. Among
the common penalties are drowning,
torture, fiogging, Punishment and fines.
The Thibetan army of 1000 men is poor
ly disciplined and is armed with bows
and old fashioned guns. Robbery
lourishes.