Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-15


IANl marks the end of one of the
@--zI most remarkable religious
political dynasties in the his
tory of Asia. What the pope at Rome
| is to Christianity, that was the grand
| lama Of Lhasa to Buddhism For gem
| erations Lhasa remained in impene-
trable mystery. a popuous little city.
| inhabited mainly by priests, women
| and dogs" No foot of infideI foreigner
was permitted to tread its uneanny
streets. 1t was known to civilization
as Lhasa, the forbidden city of gold
and turqloses. and such a weird fas-
| cination attended ! q mysteries as to
excite the spirit of adventure In many
bold explorers and investigators. But
If the city was a mystery to the out
| side wo~ld-a mystery that could be
| penetrated by no. amount OF daring
| and audacity-the personality of the
grand lama was even more OF an enig-
ma. His name even was unknown to
| man. He was the incarnation of Gods
will on earth. Shreds of his clothing
were sold at great prices toward the
maintenance of his mysterious citadel.
Even his spittle and his nail parings
were subjects of commerce-repre-
scented to be a specific for all diseases
If used in the proper" spirit.
The fight Of the grand lama to Brit
ish protection is the elimination of a
series of events running back several
generations. About 1920 Tibet had q
civil war which IL could not settle, and
the Chinese emperor was appealed to.
He sent an army into Tibet, put down
the instruction, and then proceeded
to exercise suzerainty over the Hima-
layan nation. Two Chinese representa-
tives were stationed at Lhasa. and al
though the grand lama and his lieu
tenants were permitted to rule. the
Chinese Ambans assumed to be the
power behind the throne.
Things progressed in this fashion.
with frequent unimportant clashes of
authority. until about 1900 Prior to
this the English and the Russians had
both endeavored to get surveys Of
Tibet, for 1t was the middle ground
over which they would have to fight
If they should clash for supremacy In
Asia The English secured rather
accurate surveys by the use of Mongo-
liam surveyors, who carried their con-
passes In their prayer wheels and used
their rosaries TO keep their counts of
PAGES. One of these. Main Sing.
reached the Hermit city and got look
at the grand lama. He found that one
of the tutors of the living Buddha was
naturalized Russian who had ac-
quired such influence that the grand
lama was persuaded to open negotia-
tions for an alliance with Russia This
had gone so far that n personal audi
ence had been arranged between the
car and the representative of the
grand lama. and the cushion of gold
upon which the latter would sit when
comforting with the car had been sent
ahead to ST. Petersburg.
When the English learned of these
negotiations they resolved that Russia
should not be permitted to have such
an advantage in the political fight for
the mastery of Asia. They tried to get
in touch with the grand lama to ar
range treaty. but no foreigner was
allowed on Tibetan soil The grand
lama issued an edict that any Tibetan
who let foreigner pass without killing
him should pay the penalty with his
own life. Negotiations by correspond
ence also failed China was unable,
or at least declared herself unable. to
bring the grand lama TO terms. SO Eng
land decided to send an expedition to
Lhasa to demand a treaty of peace and
friendly trade relations. The grand
lama heard of its coming and fed.
leaving his palace to the control of his
subordinates
In August. 1904. the English arrived
in Lhasa, explored the mysterious CITY.
and. even in the absence Of the grand
lama, forced the desired treaty After
they left the grand lama decided ii
would be best for him not to return at
once to Tibet, so he Travelled around
through Asia. becoming a sort Of ROYAL
sponger. whose entertainment cost his
hosts about $4,000 a day. In 1908 he
reached Picking. remained awhile with
the royal family there and then re-
turned to Tibet The grand lama was
stubborn in his hatred of foreign in
fuence at his capital, and after his
power Of the Chinese Ambans. 1t was
this that led China to drive him out
of Tibet.
1t is said that China intends to dis
pei the idea that Tibet Is a closed res
ervation for the support of the relig-
ious dynasty of Lamaism. Heretofore
of the 10000 people in Lhasa, 10000