The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-10-22
1000 LAMAS OF KUMBUM.
Light on the Mysterious De
voices of Tibet.
HAVE RIGID DISCIPLINE
A German offesr's Discoveries In a
Famous neutrality-suspicious. Really
q Small Clty--Dutles and instruction
Of Priests MAY Enter ct is Years
OF Age.

Of Priests MAY Enter ct 10 Years
Of Age.
More than 1000 men make their
home in the Tibetan monastery of
Kumbum. From early life till mid
die age they are In a religious pris-
on, walled in from the rest Of the
world. They may be sent far away on
missions, they may climb the hills
outside when religious fetes are cele-
brated. but they are tied to the great
cloister.
Lieut.. W. Filchner OF the German
army went to Kumbum some time
ago, equipped with n pass from the
chinese resident minister in Tibet.
which enabled his wife and himself
to remain there long enough to make
a careful study OF one Of the most cell
ebratod of Tibetan lamaseries and Its
inmates.
Most of these lamas do not like
foreigners and they gave Filchner a
curious specimen Of their logic. They
said that the Japanese, after thrash
ing the Chinese, had given the Rus
SLAMS a still worse thrashing. This
was sufficient proof, they said, that
foreign devils are no match for the
Chinese and undoubtedly the Chinese
will some day wipe them out.
Among the numerous ceremonies
which occupy much OF the time of the
lamas perhaps the most childish Is
that occurring on the 25th OF each
month and dedicated to travellers OF
the whole world" Hundreds OF the
priests go to the top OF mountain
three hours walk from Kumbum.
where they offer prayers and strew to
the wind many little packages con-
tanning the figures OF galloping horses
cut out of paper. The suppositlon Is
that through the power OF Buddhs
these paper horses will be transform
ed into living animals that will be
sent to the succor OF suffering pill
grims wherever they may be.
or the thousands Of priests three
fourths are Tibetans, and nearly all
tho others are Mongols with just a
sprinkling OF Chinese
Most OF the lamas are between is
and 40 yearS of age. The Oldest
among them often have snow white
hair and are held In much respect.
Nearly all Of them shave their heads
preserving only the scalp lock, and
wear no boards.
Their coarse yellow underskirts are
covered by a red robe coming down
70 their feet. but leaving one arm
and shoulder bare, so that they have
little OF the effect of the Roman to-
ga. though they are belted around
the waist no hose are permitted, furs
are strictly forbidden aud the priests
have TO inure themselves TO the rig
ors OF winter with clothing that is
really inadequate But they are per-
mitted TO wear stockings when sent
on winter Journeys across the plains
OF Mongolia.
The lower priests are always bare
headed, but the higher lamas have a
head covering One would think there
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