Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-16

of population and in the hope that II
would put an end to the horrible prac-
tlce of killing newly born female chill
dren. Buddhist priests. who had adj
Jured Brahminism and preached the
use of opium, another check on popu-
lation, introduced polyandry into Cey-
ION, Tibet, Mongolia and Corea. hut
1t has long since been suppressed in
the two last named countries. but he
fore these Buddhists preached poIvan-
dry it had been the practice in Tibet
and Ladak, where Notovitch regards
its establishment as due to economic
reasons. The problem of supporting a
million and half of people in small
territory composed of almost barren
land compelled rigid restriction of the
birth rate. if starvation and cbild-m,,r-
der were to be avoided. The institu-
ton of polyandry was the solution OF
the problem. but it was a poor one. ac-
cordlng to the description Notovitch
gives of the present physical and
moral condition Of the inhabitants of
Ladak.
Each family is obliged partly as q
further check on population and partlv
for religious reasons, to devote their
first born male child to the monast;c
life. Almost as soon as born. the child
is taken to the sonpa, or Buddhist
monastery. which is found on a height
at the entrance of every vi alro. As
soon as he reaches the age of yrars
he is confined to Il caravan going to
Lassa, where he remains in one of the
many monasteries that surround III,
city until he is Is years of age is :;
novice, learning to read. write. and in
tcrpret the sacred scriptures written
In the Pail language. and fa:niliirizing
himself with the religious rites.
The first born son of each L.adal,ian
family being thus invariably devoted
to the mOnastic life. the second son. if
there is a second, becomes the head of
the family in "a sense. and as such has
the right of choosing the woman who
shall be his wife and the wife of his
younger brothers, or maybe of tho son
oi a neighbOrirg family. The choosing
OF the bride and the nuptial ceremony
was very simple affairs. When a
woman and her husband decide on the
marriage of their sons and the oldest
Is charged with the duty of calling on
I ncighboring family that has a laugh
UT 10 marry. Inc nrSt and second
calls are spent in talk about the
weather and the crops, interspersed
with frequent libltions of tchanc. the
national beverage, Il light, unferment-
cd b"or. 1t is only on the third visit
fhat the rou'.g man declares his inten-
lion of taking q wife, when the match
: usually arranged of-hand without
much ado. A girl cannot be married
off by the parents without her con-
set. hut this is usually forthcoming.
Tor IL" Young people are not strangers
- "rch other. and as Il rule no doubt
';''" ali undcrstandign in advance.
III" .'~r"cmc1t having been made, the
"i'l i taken home by the young man
and becomes his wife and his brothers
VIE without more ado. a family that
has but one son sends him to a woman
who has but two or three husbands
and he offers himself to her as ii
fourth partner of her joys and sor-
rows. Such offers, it is said, are sell
dom declined. and the young men in
stalls himself in the new household
The parents dwell with their newly
married sons until the birth Of the first
chill The next day they pack lp
their wearing apparel, leaving all their
other belongings to the children. and
betake themselves to some s;Eall cabin
at z distance