The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-09
LHASA, THE HERMIT CITY

| The recent flight of the Grand Lama
of Lhasa from Tibet to India, pursued
! by a band of Chinese soldiers, prob
ably marks the end of one OF the most
remarkable religious political dynas-
/ ties In the history OF Asia. What th4
4 Iope at Rome is to Christianity, that
J yvasv the GrHnu lama at Luasa II
! buddhism. For generations Lhasa re-
manned in impenetra bic mystery a
populons, little city inhabited uAlHlN
+ ~ priests. women ana dogs" No foot
ot intldel foreigner was permitted to
tread its uncanny streets. Ii was
! known To civilization as Lhasa, the
forbidden city of gold and taruaeise.
and such u weird fascination at
tended Its mysteries AS TO excite the
! spirit OF adventure IN many bold en-
plorers and investigators. But If the
city was IA mystery to the outside
world, mysteIS' that could be pene-
trated by no amount of daring and
audacity, the personality of the Grand
Lama was even more of an enigma
His name even was unknown IL man.
lie was the incarnation of Gods win
on Earth. Shreds OF his clothing were
SOLD at great price toward the mnlnte-
nance OF hts mysterious citadel Even
ms spittie ana his nail parings were
subjects OF commeree--represe to
be a specific for all diseases If used
IN the proper" spirit.
me hight OF the Grand Lama to
british protection IS the elimination
OF series of events rufit4tng back
several generations. About 1870 tibet
had EVIL wal which Ii could not
Settle, and the Chinese emperor was
appealed to lie sent an army into
Tibet, put down the insurrection, and
then proceeded TO exercise suzerainty
over the Himalayan nation. Two
SAlnese representatives We're statiou-
ca at Lhasa, and although the Grand
Lama and his ileutenants were per-
mltted to rule, The Chinese Ambans a.
suniea 10 be the power behind tho
throne.
Things progressed in this tasbto,
VITA frequent unlmportant clashes ~
authority. until about 1900 Prlo,. ~
thts the English and the Russians mac
potn ehdeavored 10 get surveys nf
ilbet, Tor IL WAS the middle gro1tp+,
over which they would have 10 f{cI,ti
II they should clash Tor supremacy IN
ASIA The English secured rather 49,
1u,a.e surveys ny the use of Mon
CONAN surveyors. who earned ,hafY
IN their PRAYER whc.ls ~
used their rosaries 10 keen tharr
counts ot PAGES one of these Nj,
oihs, reached the Hermit City and gnt
a look at the Grand Lama. He ro,1n5
me, ,,' one or The tutors OF the living
buduha was a naturaf;zeG Russian
VINO mad acquired such influence ~
the Grand Lama was persnn,,ad -
open negotiations for an alliance ,y,,n
!. ussiai rms had gone 50 lar thar 81
pets"Hhi audience had been arrapyo.II
oetweeh the Gar and the repres+-,.
IatiNe OF the Grand Lama. and tha
cushion OF gold upon wnicn tna ia,~
" Would SIT when comforting with r.at
Petersburg. =
Nhea the English learned of these
negotiations they resolved that Rus
STA should not be permitted to have
such an advantage in the poutic.u
nght Tor the mastery of Asia, They
lried To get In touch with the Grand
Lama 70 arrange treaty. hut No
foreigner was allowed on Tibetan soil
1 ne Grand Lama issued an etiet that
any Tibetan who let foreigner pass
without killing him should nav tho
penalty with his own life Negotia- :
Ions by correspondence also failed /.
nina was unable. or at least declared :
herself unable, to bring the Grand /,
lama 10 terms, 80 England 4rcidad !
o send an expedition to I.hasa to j.,
lemana treaty Of peace and friend.
y trade relations The Grand l.s.,a !.
leard Of It's coming ana He'd. leaving :.
MS palace TO the control OF his suDor- / r
linates.
In August, 1904, the English arr / !
lived In Lhasa. explored the rnysteris b