The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-28

and the peculiarities of its government
readily explain the fact. Thibet, which is
about three times the size of France in
area, is the loftiest plateau of that extent in
the world, it's table lands varying in height
from 10000 TO 1900 feet Indeed, ii has
been estimated, though the estimate is
probably slightly exaggerated, that the av-
erage height of Thibetan lands is that of
the summit of Mont Blanc. The plateau is
entirely surrounded by girdle of noun
tains. which would have made access to the
country extremely difficult, even if there
had not been other than natural obstacles.
The Thibetans are a Mongolia race,
though more closely allied to the Burmese
than to the Chinese proper, and for nearly
two centuries their country has been sort
of Chinese dependency. Two imperial Chi
nese delegates from Picking reside at Lhas-
sa, but their power over the internal affairs
of the land is generally understood to be
slight Exactly what the form of Thibetan
government is has never yet become fully
known to the outside world Religion, of
the most thorough and fascinating East
ern type, is known to authorize and direct
all political activities. But whether the
real rule is with the abbots of the great
monasteries or whether Ii rests wholly in
the hands of the Dalia Lama, who is the
head of the monasteries, has not been made
clear to the very few travellers who have
obtained distant glimpses of the way these
mysterious people are managed. 1t is not
even known whether the Dalai Lama him.
self is Pope or Incarnation.
About all that Is known, In fact is
that by some mystery-shrouded authority
all European explorers who have sought to
penetrate Thibet have been met by an OPP
position that very few of them could over
come; and these few have been effectively
prevented from seeing or learning much and
have been speedily returned whence they
came. Even accredited emiSsaries of the
indian government have been treated with
The same inhospitality and inactivity.
though some trade between India and the
lofty plateau was at one time maintained
through specially trained Indians. Long ago,
however, the passes into India were closed
and all commercial intercourse with the
Thibetans has since been by way of China
About a dozen years ago the French tried
TO open route from Tonquin, but their
efforts were failure.
The general supposition among all for
egners has been that 1T was Chinese i'm
perial influence that was strongest among
the artificial obstacles to entrance into
Thibet. But now. quite Unexpectedly to
everybody 1t seems, dispatch has come
from Picking saying that permission has
been granted for mission TO Lhassa to
discuss questions of boundary and COM
merce about which the governments of In
dia and Thibet have long been at variance
satisfactory explanation of this apparent
change of attitude is not forthcoming. But
or course the permission Will be eagerly
seized Lord CurZon will presently start a
carefully selected commission on the well
come duty, and the Lamas whatever their
feelings in the matter may be- not daring
surely to defy both Picking and Simla. will
receive the ENJOYS at least courteously
Overhanging both China and India, this
practically unknown land of Thibet might
become factor of great Importance in in
ternational complications in that part Of
the world; the British In particular must
have a lively practical interest In the flu
ture of what is already buffer state for
India not less important than Afghanistan.
But for the world at large the interest in
the coming official visit of trained European
observers TO land of mystery. whose cap
ital but three pairs OF white mems eyes
have fallen upon in over a hundred years
must be mainly in what new contributions
to general knowledge will be brought back