The Washington times., 1904-01-06
VEIL TO BE LIFTED
ON SECRETS OF TIBET
Expedition to Penetrate
Most Isolated Land.
LEAST KNOWN TO OUTSIDERS
Temple Of Buddha in Center of City
of LasSa-0ther Statues
and Relics.

LONDON. Jan. 6.-The advance of the
British expedition to Tibet draws pub
lie attention to a country that is the
least known, to outsiders, of any on the
globe.
The few Photographic views of Lassa,
the capital of Tibet. which have found
their way to Europe have only been
obtained by the greatest circumspec-
ton. They are, therefore, rare at the
present time. Until recent years. when
member Of a Nepal mission took
what was probably the first photograph
ever obtained of Lassa, or rather the
residences Of the Dalai Lama, just out
side Lassa, the only pictorial represen-
tation of the sacred city which was TO
be seen in Europe was an old woodcut
dating from 1860, the work OF the Jesuit
missionaries to Asia.
Recently, however, actual photo
graphs have been taken of Lassa by the
son Of a Kalmuk noble, who, though
educated in Russia, did not give up his
Buddhistic faith. but set out on a pill
grimage to Lassa as the result Of a
meeting with the Tibetan abbot Cor
khambo), Agwang Dordje.
A Pilgrim Photographer.
Setting out from the province OF
Stavropol, north of the Caucasus. he
finally arrived at the holy city in
March, 1899. On this journey he reach
ed Lassa from the northwest. y sec
ond attempt made from India was un-
successful owing to the suspicious OF
the Indian government
A third attempt was made at the end
of 1900. when Narunof again reached
Lassa from the northwest. He arrived
In the secret city on February %, 1901,
and stayed there a month, during
which time lie was able to use a small
camera which he had brought with
him.
The views he obtained had to be
taken with the greatest care against
detection. but they are, doubtless owing
to the clearness Of the air, perfectly
sharp and capable OF enlargement
Photography is absolutely prohibited in
Lassa, a high Tibetan official who had
brought a camera from Paris being
compelled to break it up in the pres
ence of the Dalai Lama's ministers.
Latest Visitor to Lassa.
Another educated Asiatic has managed
to penetrate the ever guarded frontiers
OF the province OF WI, of which Lassa
is the capital city. NJ. Zybikcf is a
graduate Of the University OF ST Pet
ersburg, and by birth a Buddhist Burlat
from the Lake Baikal district Of ST.
IBERIA. He was therefore able TO reach
Lassa uudetected among other (unedu-
cated) Monaghan pilgrims who visit
Lassa in large numbers. and who. be-
fore they enter the Sacred City. make
circuit OF it by throwing themselves
fat on the ground and repeating this
their feet being placed at each pros
tration on the spot their head was in
the preceding one-until the circuit is
made. AS this represents about three
miles. and as the pilgrims actually
measure the distance by their bodies,
the terrible nature OF the ordeal can be
well imagined.
The city. though small, having at
most only 10000 regular inhabitants. is
an important commercial center. The
native traders are all women. 1t is
strange. too. that the women form two
thirds of the population.
Temple of Buddha.
In the center of the city is the Temple
OF Buddha. 1t is about 40 feet square
and is three stories high. with three
gilded Chinese roofs. and contains the
gigantic bronze statue of Buddha. which
has hammered gold and jeweled head
dress. in front of which burns a sacri-
fetal fire fed with melted butter.
Other statues and relics are kept in
chambers OF the same temple. among
which is the statue OF the goddess of
women, to which are offered spirits and
wheat. The wheat is at once eaten by
mice.
The sacred building also contains
rooms for the Dalai Lama and his coun-
Gil. Close by is the ancient castle of
Hodson- Bodala. a structure LOO feet
long and nine stories high, in which are
located the treasury. the mint, and the
schools of theology and medicine. A
thousand priests take part in religious
professions to this mountain. Among
other monasteries near Lassa are three
ir which 1900 monks are housed.