The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-13
ever SER

ward Lassa. And II they do travel, then
shall You lose your head Sec to it that
they turn back by the way they came"
once he turned his back upon Lassa.
Dr. Hedtn and his Tibetan escort were
on the best Of terms, and they exerted
themselves to add to his comfort nor
would they accept pay for the large guam
titles OF provisions and the animals which
they gave him.
Character Of the Country.
The region generally included in the land
cal1eo iloet Is vast plateau roughly es-
timated at about one-f1fth the size OF the
United States, embraced by the Himalaya,
huen-lun and Allyn agh ranges OF noun
tains near the center Of the great con-
tinent Of Asia This plateau has mean
elevation Of 10000 to II, 900 feet above sea
level: Attic the latitude OF the most
populous part Of the land is about the
same as Florida, the climate il almost
Arctlo IN rigor owing to the great altitude.
Very little verdure and only a few Of the
most hardy cereals can grow. and these
IN the deeper valleys Of southern Tibet.
Hundreds Of lakes, many Of them Of great
extent, dot the landscape. which has never
been fully surveyed. The greater part Of
northern Tibet has no vegetation, the soil
Of the plains and valleys resembling mud
caked into solidity by the cold. AS Ii the
mountain ranges, the most lofty in the
world, did not offer sufficient barrier. the
northern and western frontiers can be- an
preached only across the Tar1m and Cobb
deserts. Recent explorations of the noun
tain ranges that wall the country reveal
the existence Of hundreds OF peaks with
estimated attitudes OF more than 10000
Feet, while the passes are exceedingly DIFF
ncult at all seasons, owing to the intense
cold and snow. In this region originate
nearly all the great rivers Of eastern and
southern Asia. including the Yellow.
1angtse, Brahmaputra, Indus and Sutle1.
Which are fed by the perpetual SHOWS
City White sepuIctro.
Attic the sacred city is white and bril-
liant from distance. It is filthy within
truly white sepulchre. The houses are
punt OF mud and yak's droppings and
'aa wn1tewashed without. Bands Of yell
low and red, the two sacred colors are
painted around the doors and windows
Inc rooms have an open skylight to carry
or the pungent smoke Of the fuel. which
IS also the product of the yak. Some
houses are built entirely of the horns of
yaks and sheep. The horns Of the yak
being smooth and white, and those Of the
sheep rough and black, they make a verv
curious combination when Enthusiastically ar
ranged These houses are not white
washed. At the corners and over the
windows the horns project, thus providing
the most curious architectural Ornamental
ton have ever seen. The yak is a, sort
of bull, the national animal of Tibet.
The greatest building in Lassa, is the
temple. Before it stands a flagstaff 100
feet high, adorned with yak's hair and
horns. The building is said to be rooted
with gold The only light is furnished by
a transparent oilcloth in the roof, The
temple contains fifteen plates of massive
silver, adorned with Jewels The temple
holds the gigantic image Of Ruddha tho
largest image in the world 1t is 40 feet
high and rises up to the roof of the struc
ture. 1t is gilded all over and covered
with precious stones. Flowers are daily
showered upon it,
Lassa is in the same latitude as New