New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-10
ROD REPEALED.
In Tibet scitb Colonel Younghusband
and Others.

1ynes" with frontispiece in colors ana M Ivy
Do xvi. 4si. Doubleday Page & co.
THE UNWILLING OF LHAsA BY aaI' en5 effy
der with map. frontspece IN coiors anu Az ~ "
two Illustrations from r aHa cray GO
TIBET AND NEPAI. Painted and Described by
enty illustrations in colors. svo PIP. x ZSS' the
Macmillan Company
Two volumes recording the progress and re-
,ults of the British mission to Lhasa have re-
rentIv appeared written by the correspondents.
resnecttyely of 1.-THE London Times" and The
Daily Mail" Naturally they cover much the same
sround yet differences in temperament ano OPP
portunity give variety 70 the two accounts SO
that while an excellent idea of what was &C
romplished may be derived from either each
supplements the other IN many particulars one
r11mly humorous and unavoidable omission
from both that must be source Of supreme
tatisfaction TO the Tibetan government and
hierarchy. is q description. from personal OBJ
servation. Of the Dalai Lama. The flight OF the
Reincarnation of Avaloketa, before the arrival
Of the Europeans, was, in effect one or the
most stupendous practical jokes on record, the
edge of which is hardly dulled by his suose-
suent deposition by China and the transfer OF
his temporal prerogatives TO the Tashi Lama
nt Shigatse.
The more important Of the two books is I'M
eoubtedly that written by Perceval Landon TO
Il
ruction, which is understood to be the only non
official utterance that the leader of the mission
is to give to the public the subject. While
ne distinctly disavows any responsibility for the
political views Of the author the reader feels
that his reticence is more likely to arise from
hesire to avoid rejecting on the policy OF MS
superiors than from an implied disapproval OF
Er. Landon's freely expressed opinions and
criticisms Whether or no the British were
Justified in their invasion of Tibet and In max
ing their diplomatic point at a cost Of human
life that was in the aggregate appalling; wheth-
rr or no the political advantage seemingly
gained is likely TO be Of any lasting beneht TO
Great Britain, or-save the mark-to Tibet, the
amount that has been added to human knowl-
Adge by the expedition will remain Of permanent
ralue and fascinating interest. 1t is from this
point Of view that We shall confine our conslo-
grafton of THE Opening Of Tibet"
Something of course of what the author tells
ms as he describes the course of the advance,
has been known TO through the investiga-
lions Of previous explorers, notably W. w.
Rockhill. 10 whom the American edition is
dedicated. and Sven Hedin. It is no news TO
rs that the Tibetans practise polyandry or that
they are as dirty as people can be who never
wash, beyond an occasional exposure to
shower. To a certain extent Mr.. Landon knew
Rhat he was going to see, but the actual seeing
revealed many unexpected wonders Very dill
.erent for instance, does the scenery OF TIBET
appear to us, IN Mr.. Landon's vivid descriptions
hrom the sandy wastes told Of by adventurous
travellers who tried TO creep in unnoticed
through its back door.
The color of Tibet has no parallel in the world
nor even In places of such local reputation as
Bydney or Calcutta. or Athens, Is mere Speh q
there is in this fertile plain inset in the mountain
q quality Of both light and color that cannot be
rendered by the best Of colored plates. but which
figure and fact are to be properly conceived.
Figure and fact Mr.. Landon gives US, but not
their dry bones. He has rare faculty OF as
rimilating his impressions. and had. besides. the
advantage of association with men well up in the
various subjects of which he writes, with whom
be could compare and correct the results Of his
observations. His chapters on the customs re-
iigior art and politics of the sacred land of Bod
are as full Of charm as they are of information
The people. with all their uncleanly habits,
their dense ignorance and gross superstition, the
author found TO be attractive in their manners.
cheerful in disposition, and courteous and hos
pitable TO strangers. They are hard working
sgriculturists bringing their small patches Of
the rich soil to a state OF intense cultivation.
Although the major part of what they produce
goes 10 their overlords the monks and the few
families of high rank among whom the land is
apportioned they do not appear to be oppressed.
and live in a degree of comfort that compares
tavorably with the agricultural laborers Of Eu-
rope Their ignorance is fostered by the
hierarchy in order TO maintain its temporal and
spiritual control. For this purpose the lamas
have adopted into their religion the original
gods of the country, so that the Buddhism Of
Tibet has no longer the faintest resemblance to
the plain, austere creed which Gautama
preached. Thus under thin mask of
names and personihcations suggested by the rec
ords Of the master, or by the reforms effected
by Asanga a system of devil worship pure and
simple reigns in Tibet THE line between re-
ligion and superstition may be a fine one and
hard TO place" continues Mr.. Landor but
wherever It may be drawn the Buddhist Of Tibet
has long crossed tt" Everything that happens
is attributed TO the operation Of benevolent or
rnalefcent spirits, whose aid must be invoked or
whose interference averted by means Of charms
retailed and wholesaled at moderate prices by
the monks. Prayers are not in themselves the
defences Of the poor IN Tibet. They only be
lively and efectual when sanctioned by the
priest; and the huttering prayer flag, the turn
Ing wheel. the muttered ejaculation, is valid only
after due consultation at the local Gompa" or
monastery. The religion Of the common people
Is as truly a fetichism as is that Of the African
negro.
With the lama another set of terrors comes
into play. Even If he believes in the demons. he
feels secure against them I'm the observance OF
the ritual Of his church. 1t is the ever present
fear Of reincarnation that spurs him to the
practices of religion. If he fails to acquire
merit he faces "a never ending repetition in
this world Of the same struggle he is now en-
during" Nor is there any form Of life so dis