The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-18

Lassa when II was known that the
British were certnin to enter the city,
and at this time he is in hiding in one
OF the mOnasteries n the vicinity
Outside OF the officials Of the British
government, no one really knows why
General Macdonald and Colonel Young
husband have fought a passage through
Tibet to Lassa- There Is the pretty
fairy story OF the refusal of the
Tibetans to drink CeylOn tea as required
by some sort Of treaty made years ago.
The Tibetans live on tea and -four,
made into sort Of thick paste, and
the sale Of tea is enormous. For this
reason the MacDOnaId-Y ounghusbsnd
expedition has been the aspect Of a
military trade-drummiug trip.
In Tibet, Russia is seeking a foot
hold, an approach 10 the boundaries Of
India Russia hrs always sought to get
close to as many Of the doors into India
as possible, and for this reason the
British smiled cannily when, after their
fights in the mountain passes, they
found that the guns lying beside the
bodies Of the dead Tfbetans who de-
tended the passes against them bore
the marks Of the imperial arsenal OF
Russia.
Secret City Revealed.
Whatever may have been the main
cause or reason for forcing British
column through the mountains OF IT,
bet, the people Of the civilized world
are chiefly interested in knowing that
the weird, gOlden-roOfed city Of Lassa
has been entered at last by white men
and that the secrets of the place may
now be known.
The fact that Lassa is situated on 4
plain higher than the top Of Mont Blanc
adds something of interest to the af-
fair, but the weirdly mysterious relf-
gion Of the people of Lassa and their
manner Of secluding themselves from
the world for centuries will appeal in
strongest fashion 10 those who read
| OF the exploit.
Fate of One Traveller.
The world has known Of Lassa: of the
| devil dances of the priests. through
the streets OF the city: Of the approach
| Of pilgrims 10 this Mecca Of Buddhists
on their knees. crawling through the
| dust or mud of the roads. of the tor
ture OF the victims Of the Buddhist
| priests.
| AANAAAS odNdkG I4dnQGE IearIul SUI
/ ferings through his attempt to entc,
/ Lassa a few years ago are well remem-
/ bered- He got no farther than the out
| skirts OF the place, and was there seizef
| by priests. who tortured him in varicu,
ways and finally held a white hot svorf
| within quarter Of an inch of his eve.
/ balls, binding him for weeks. and i'm,
/ pairing his sight for life He was
/ turned back without having caugh
more than a glimpse Of the golden roof.
OF LaSsa.
Earlier Explorers There.
| In 1911 an adventurous EngIishman
Walter Manning, entered Lassa In dis
! guise, according to his own story, bu
his descriptions We're not clear enough
to be Of any value. and there have beer
many who have doubted that he eve1
| got within long distance telephone reacl
! of Lassa
In 1876 two French missionary priests
/ Hue and CADET. passed inside the gates
| or the city with great mass of Dil
grims and succeeded in getting out with
! out being discovered No other Eu
rccean was able to approach the. cit,
after that until Lander got within sigh
of the gates.
Pundit Main Sing an Indian surve,
explorer, entered Lassa in 1866 and IN
1873, and in 1882 Charles Das. mcmbe
Of the Indian Educational Department