The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-01-03


over garment shaped like burnoose
and leaving one bronzed arm bare, at
their quaint peaked caps tipped with
sable. at their single earring set with
a heavy lump of matrix turquoise and
most of all-at the kodaks slung
over the shoulders of several priests.
The procession passed directly across
the city to the temple beyond the
outer walls where the Dalai Lama
was to lodge. 1t is situated on the
same plain that the Allies encamped
upon when they came to Picking in
1860. Now, as then, it is covered with
tents-but these latest arrivals. intead
of being white and regular, are brown
and struggling. Camels lie besde-them;
shaggy ponies are tethered to their
ropes. and before almost every one
there is a crowd of Mongol men and
women loafng about and talking loud
". There seems to be no attempt at
order. and all Mongols, no matter how
dirty. are welcome.
The Dalai Lama s own quarters are
superintended by Chinese officials, who
observe all visitors, and indeed, take
them in charge from their arrival to
their departure. What they probably
dread is some ENTHUSIASTICALLY
Russian intrigue. for the Dalai Lama is
known to favor the Russians, while he
detests the British. Rumor says that
it was a Russian Lama named Dorjieff,
by the way, who helped to arrange the
famous fight from Lhasa.
Naturally the Russian minister has
been to call upon the Dalai Lama. but
SO have all the other diplomats in Pek
ing. One plenipotentiary asked for an
audience not only for himself, but for
his staff and the officers of his legation
guard. The request was granted and
the party made brave show. all the
military being naturally in uniform
But as soon as the Dalai Lama saw the
geld lace and swords he looked startled
trembled perceptibly, and asked that
the officers retire Immediately. He
Feared that they were meditating a
coup d'etat, that they had come to
take him prisoner, and since the oc-
casion he has steadily refused to re-
ceive any one in uniform, and never
more than two or three persons at q
time
During the audiences he sits upon a
high, bench-like throne with his hands
folded and his feet carefully placed in
the ceremonial attitude-that is, heels
together and toes at right angles to
each other. He wears simple flowing
garment of dark red Thibetan cloth
and all his surroundings are equally
unpretentious The four Chief Lamas
who form his council usually stand
round him with bowed heads, and one
. of them generally translates.
Personally the Dalai Lama is rather
above the average height, thick set
unusually long and straight for Thi
betan. His eyebrows turn upward and
give him forbidding look. He look
more than his thirty-three years, ant
his menacing expression seems to b,
true index to his character, SO ia
as the character can he judged of on
whom it is considered blashphemous t,
scrutinlze and criminal to discuss
There is little doubt, however, that h
is cleverer than the majority of hi
predecessors-as well as proud, head
strong, and determined. The last char
acteristic he plainly showed in his dis
cussions over his audience with tn
Emperor of China. He made so man
conditions-one of which was that tn
emperor should drag him into tn
throne room with silken cord--tha
the whole matter nearly fell through
But finally outside influence oblige
him to give in and, notwithstanding hi
sanctity, make his nine kotows befor
the Son of Heaven like other people
The interview then proceeded AMIGA
bly,, and the Dalai Lama took the OF
portunity to submit a long list Of Til
betan reforms, including the construc
tion of a railway to Lhasa.
And now that some form of agree
ment-the exact nature of which, o
Il course, the public may not know-ha
been concluded, the Dalai Lama is i'm
patient to start back to Thibet TIL
question is should he return, will I'll
Il regent who has been governing tn
country in his absence abdicate grace
! fully. Since the assumption of ten
i poral power by the fifth Grand Lam
in the seventeenth century, the Who'll
i history of the Thibetan hierarchy ha
been record, Of bloodshed and in
;. trigue. No less than twelve Da1a
Lamas have been suddenly absorbet
into the universal essence when tbei
continuance in this mortal coil becam
inconvenient. Truly the life of til
- Eloquent, Noble Minded Tubdan,; a
the incumbent is called, can not be a
enviable one He has no amusement.
His days pass in pious abstraction 0
in the monotonous repetition of 'OI
Man Padme Om' and he has neitAe
companions nor friends. Surrounde
by ignorant and brutal men, he is a
most certain in the end to fan victii
to some plot, and meanwhile he ha
, the satisfaction of knowing that whe
he does suddenly disappear, no que
, tions will be asked-that those VIII
hear of his death viii simply sav
$ "Who shall presume to Judge the d,
: ings of the divine Lord of Mercy an
, Judgment or to question the hour whe
he ordains that a spirit shall enter
, higher state?'
! CHARLES LORRIMER.
: Peking, November Is, 1908