The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-18
Mysteries of Ages Van
iSh as Photographers
Begin Work.
Gold Enough in City to
Pay the Big Debt of
England.
Palace Roof of Dalai
Lama Covered With
Rare Metal.

carried back 10 India the best descFfB-
ton ever given OF the city.
The descriptions Of today are those
OF Englishmen, however, undeterred BY
fear Of torture at the hands of the
priests Of the Northern Buddhists.
The reports from the British forcaE
all agree that the first view OF the town
in approaching it from the west Is re-
markable. On the left Is a conicai hfi-
on which is situated Potala. the Dalai
Lama's residence. with its lofty bund
ings and its roof OF gold, between which
and the town winds bread avenue Of
ancient trees.
To the right Is Changpa Hill. sur
mounted by the Medical College, an I'm
mense structure over a quarter OF a
mile long and several stories high. Be-
tween these two regal hills, crowned by
their wonderful structures, the visitor
TO Lassa catches sight OF the Forbidden
City. 1t appears a closely packed mass
OF well built. white houses surmountad
by roofs Of blue, glazed tiles. with here
and there the glittering minarets and
spires thrusting upward toward the cold.
clear sky overhead, and over all thu
dominating presence OF the golden-roof-
ed temples and paIacec Of Lassa-
Lsma's Gold-Domed Palace.
The most striking feature OF the city
is undoubtedly Potals- the palace OF the
Dalai Lama. Buddha's vice regent on
earth. The palace Is a.. aggregation Of
several temples. the middle one. which
dominates the rest being the Red Pal
ace" containing the great audience hall.
where the Dalai Lama, clad in yellow
and seated on a throne supported by
carved lions, receives pilgrims
The Red Palace is crowned by a come
covered entirely with p'ates OF goIf.
and from this roof at the great Jesti-
walls the Dalai Lama contenplates mis-
worshipers as they advance along the
plain and PROSTATE themselves AT the
foot Of the sacred muintain.
Ihree-quarters Of q mile 70 the south
west Is Norbu Ling, the summer. palace
Of the Dalai Lama. situated in the
midst OF a beautiful garden. IN which
the British force is now encamped.
The Jovo Khang, or Temple Of the
Lord Buddha," is an immense building
with three Chinese roofs covered with
gold, the upper stories Of the edifee
being supported by great wooden pill
lars ten feet in diameter. Here is an
exquisitely modelled image of Buddha.
oeALA " AAAC DL4E5lS ~ nave DGen mace
during the life Of the great teacher.
Around this are placed many golden
lamps. which are kept burning con-
stantly, supplied with melted butter.
North Of this temple stands the house
Of the astrolOger royal and his hundred
retainers, with an enormous golden
cupola, which is visible for many miles.
City Is on an Island.
On the southern side Of the city flows
the River Kyiclu, while a canal diverted
from the river flows to the north. in
closing the city entirely by water.
Across the canal IS the huge stone
bridge over which crossed the British
forces.
AS yet no accurate idea Of the popula-
ton OF LassR has been obtained II Is
the home Of the very heart OF Budd-
hism and every tenth person is a priest
Of Buddha.
Those who are not priests are more or
less intimately connected with the ad-
ministration of the religious govern
ment Of Tibet, either as the servants OF
the priests or Iaborers in the temples,
or as subordinate lay officials of the
priesthood government.
Human life is he'd so cheaply shat
the slightest offense. the most trivial
infraction OF the rules OF the order OF
Buddha, is punished by death, and usu-
ally death by torture The people OF
Eassa are temperate. drinking nothing
but tea, but the priests are immoral,
given to drunkenness on barley wine,
and leading lives within their monster
les which are hardly fit for publication.
n,,aa-- DALAI sc Or;-;1
Lassa is constantly in the throes OF
some form Of religious ceremony. The
priests OF Tibet believe the race sprang
from the union of monkey and hob
goblin. and in the streets OF Lassa are
celebrated devil Dances in which the
priests, disguised as monkeys and hob
COLLINS. whirl dervish-like or perform
weird antics III order to accustom the
worshiDers of the Buddhist faith to the
sight OF the creatures when they shall
have passed into the presence Of the
monsters of the after life.
Wild, wailing music rings through the
streets of the mystic city as the priests
In their hideous masks chant their fear
some rites and perform the frightful
parade that is marked by trail Of blood,
for human sacrifices are required for
Ene performance " THESE ANAAloAAANc
Resented Invasion.
In the town are many strange classes
OF haneers-On Of the Buddhist moaas-
teries. the ragyabas, the men who cut
I'D the bodies OF the dead and feed them
TO the pariah dogs; the low caste crea-
/ lures who wash the bones of the dead
/ and clean them that the relatives may
make prayer disks of them for rosartes,
land the thousands of temple attendants.
| All are equally resentful of the intru-
sion of the British force. and the pres
ent Of $50 British and 1900 native in
/ clan soldiers in town containing many
] thousand Tibetans ready 10 resort 10
Iauv trick of ambush or surprise TO
Iavenge the insults TO their gods.
There is no fear in London but thauV
the expedition viii leave without hav-
ing suffered in any fashion from its
/ trip into Lassa, and there is frml
belief that there Will be left in thef
Forbidden CITY a force which viii re
main henceforth until Tibet shah be
come. like India, part of the British
possessions