Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-10

The recent flight OF tho grand lama OF
Lhasa from Tibet 70 India. pursued by a
band OF Chinese soldiers. probably marks
the end Of one OF the most remarkable re-
l~igious-politcal dynasties in the history Of
Asia. What the pope at Rome IL to Chris
tianity. that was the grand lama Of Lhssa
to Buddhism. For conceptions Ihssa re-
manned in impsnetrable mystery, a populous
little city Inhabited mainly by priests,
women and dogs No foot OF ineidel for
eigner was permitted to tread its uncanny
streets. It was known to civilization, as
Lhasa. the forbidden city Of gold and tur-
ouoise, and such a weird fascination at
tended It's mysteries as to exile the spirit
OF adventure in many bold explorers and in
v~estigators. But lf the city was a mystery
to the outside world. a mystery that could
be penetrated by no amount OF daring and
audacity, the personality OF the grand
lama was even more OF an enigma. His
name even was unknown 10 man. He was
the incarnation Of Gods VII, on Earth.
Shreds Of his clothing were sold at great
price toward the maintenance OF his mys-
terious citadel Even has spittls and his
nail parings were subjects OF commerce
represented to be a specific for all diseases
II used In the proper spirit
The flight Of the grand lama to British
protection is the elimination OF IA series
Of events running back several generations.
About Ito Tibet had a civil war which It
could not settle, and the Chinese emperor
was appealed to. he sent an army into
TSbet, put down the insurreetion, and then
proceeded to exercise suSerainty over the
Himalyan nation. Two Chinese represen-
tatives were stationed at Lhasa, and al
though the grand lama and his l~leutenants
were permitted to rule, the Chinese ambanes
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 sndeaPored to
get surveys Of Tibet, for 1t was the middle
ground over which they would have to
fight II they should clash for supremacy
In Asia. The English secured rather &C
curate surveys by the use OF Monaghan
surveyors, who carried their compasses 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 a look at the grand lama. He
found that one Of the tutors of the living
Buddha was a naturalized Russian, who
had acquired such influence that the grand
lama was persuaded to open negotiations
for an alliance with Russia. This had
gone so far that a personal audience had
been arranged between the car and the
representative OF the grand lama, and the
eurhion 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 nego-
~tiations they resolved that Russia should
not be permitted to have such an advan-
tage in the political fight for the mastery
Of Asia They tried to get IN touch with
the grand lama to arrange a treaty, but
no foreigner was allowed on Tibetan soil.
The grand lama issued an ediet that any
Tibetan who let a 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 itself unable. to bring the
grand lama to terms, soy England decided
to send an expedition to Ehasa to demand
a treaty Of peace and friendly trade rela-
tons. The grand lama heard Of it's com
ing and fled, leaving hts palace 10 the con-
troll of his Bubordinetas. . ral ..
In August, 1904, the English arrived in
Lhasa, explored the mysterious city, and.
even in the absence ofAthe grand lama,
forced the desired treaty. After they left
the grand lama concluded it 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 entertain
ment cost his hosts about 5000 a day. In
1908 he reached Picking, remained a while
with the royal family there, and then re-
turned to Tibet. The grand lama was
stubborn in his hatred of foreign influence
at his capital and. after his return, de-
cided to put a check to the power Of the
Chinese ambane. 1t was this that led
China to drive him out OF Tibet.
1t is said that him Intends to dispel the
idea that Tibet is a closed reservation for
the support OF the religious dynasty OF
Lamaism. Heretofore, Of the $1,000 people
in LhRsa, 10000 were monks, a single mon.
astery containing more than 1000 of them
The Chinese are going to leave only 100 OF
more In each monastery, forcing the other,