The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29

fit as a fiddle. And there ii was that,
resenting being disarmed. the Thibetans.
under the worst possible conditions for
themselves. being huddled together in an
Enclosure, first tried little fighting. With
their Anticipated weapons, against maya
zine rifles, machine guns and disciplined
troops they Jared much as a pack of sheep
would have done that had turned on n
lot of lions. Hudreds of them were slain.
Nothing could more strikingly reveal the
lingo spirit-imperialism is the popular
name for (which at present possesses the
British public, that this comment OF Lon
don journal: 1T speaks in the highest
the whole [Thibetanl force was not exter-
minated. The lesson taught the
priestly fanatics of Lhassa has been sharp
furnishes a perfect illustration of the ar
rogant ignorance and overweening folly OF
the lamas." Patriotism begets strange
form Of mental astigmatism.
One result of the expedition has been the
discovery of the flthiest town on earth.
Phari is its name, which in the Thibet Ian
guage means pig HILL" very appropriate
apologies to the pig. Nothing ever has been
cleaned at Phari since it was built, and 1t
is estimated that the fort is four hundred
years OLD In the best quarters of the town,
where the houses are two-storied, the ac-
cumulated filth rises to the first floor win
dows, and trenches have TO be dug in the
malodorous mess to reach the doors. I'm
the middle of the street. between the two
banks of filth and offal,' writes a corre-
SpOndent, runs a sinking channel which
thaws daily. In it horns, bones and skulls
OF various beasts eaten by the Thibetans lie
till the dogs and ravens have picked them
clean enough to be used in the mortared
walls and thresholds. The stencil is fear
full Half decayed corpses of dogs he cud-
died UP with their NANCY but surviving
brothers and sisters. who do not resent the
ravens. curdled and filthy torrent flows
through the market place and half-breed
yaks shove the sore-eyed and mouth-ul-
cered children aside to drink at it. The
men and women, clothes and faces alike,
are as black as the peat walls that form a
background to every scene. They have
never washed themselves They never in
tend to wash themselves. Ingrained dirt to
an extent that it would be impossible TO
describe, reduces what would otherwise be
clear, sallow-skinned but good COM
plexioned race to collection of foul and
grotesque negroes"
the fearful cold. accentuated often by an
icy, grit-laden north wind, furnishes some
palliatiOn for this state of affairs. Water
is obtainable only when the snow meIts
The only available fuel is dried yak-dung
The acrid. greasy fumes of these fires coat
the interiors OF the squat novels with lay
ers OF SCOT which are never removed and
blacken the faces and garments of the in
mates. The married women of Thibet are
compelled to disfigure their brows and
cheeks with kutch, preparation resem-
bling dried blood and it is probable they
rather welcome the dirt which conceals the
signs of matrimonial bondage.
MURDERED LAMAS
If the Dalia Lama cannot be induced in
any other way to give heed to the British
demands the expedition ultimately will
push on to Lhassa itself, where he resides
in the Red Palace, which tops a long, white
precipice of monastic walls ten sheer
stories high. Then the veil of mystery
| which has long enshrouded this supreme
| head of Northern Buddhism will be torn
aside. He is the first of long line Of child
| Dalai Lamas who has been allowed to at
| tain to maturity, and nominally, at least.
| assume the reins of government Most of
his predecessors, if they did not oppor-
timely die a natural death. were assassi-
mated. Eight years. it is estimated repre-
sents the average survival in Office of these
unhappy children who have had greatness
| so strangely thrust upon them. During the
| minority of the Dalai Lamas affairs were
| appointment the sanction of China was
necessary. The policy of assassination.
| therefore. assured the continued predomf-
nance of Chinese influence. 1t was to aid in
attaining complete independence of China
that the Lammasarie hierarchy granted a
natural lease or life to the present Grand
| Lama when he became of age in 1883.
| Thereby, they got rid of the desi. But it
| has also afforded the Indian government
an excuse Ior INSISTING on dlrect negOtia-
| tions with the Dalia Lama
| At Shigatse, some 200 miles from the
| City of Myestery, there resides another
| Thibetan pontiff, the Grand Lama OF Tashe-
| Lhunpo. who in former generations was
| supposed TO represent the highest reincar-
| nation OF Buddha. He still has a consider
| able following, and it is darkly limited that
| If other means of bringing the Dalai
Lama to terms fail this rival pope will be
| played against him, and perhaps elevated
| by British bayonets to supreme power
| h. Isle SMELL
| Copyright, 1904. by Curtis Brown.J