Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-02-25
SAVACES OF ASIA.
The Unframed Chites OF Tibet Are
ldoIaters and CannibaIS.
MURDER IN THEIR RELIGION.

anu nNRdfbtNN 0hSh~ &SNSF
A religious festival by savage tribe
lf Asia, in which occurred human
sacrifice and the burning OF the victim
IN funeral pyre. Is described by WI
liam Jameson Reid In bis book. "Unex-
plored Asia" The rites were held in
place called Chite City. Tzuchan.
which was reached after hazardous
tourney through the Ping mountains.
lie says;
LET me give brief history OF this
strange race. who for centuries have
ieiied the most persistent research OF
explorers and ethnologists. Many cen
turtles ago. in the vicinity Of Shanghai.
there lived highly enlightened race
known as the Chites. They were the
most fanatical and bigoted Buddhlsts.
so fanatical, in fact. that their turbu.
lent spirits and eager desire 10 SOW the
seed OF proselytism caused frequent
revolutionary disturbances. The gov.
ernment. rs It's only means OF saliva
ton. made war on them. For years the
Cities battled against overwhelming
odds until nc last. their numbers fear.
fully reduced. they gradually retired 10
the west. settling here and there. only
10 be again driven back. After years
vi wanderings they located in the wild
mountain region OF northwestern Tibet.
For untold centuries they have held
entirely aloof from their more civilized
Chinese neighbors. and today they are
as unframed and barbarous as were
their fierce ancestors. Many OF them
are savages OF the worst degree: even
cannIballsm Is said 10 be prevalent
among many Of them. They acknowl.
edge no allegiance 10 the emperor en-.
tlrcly ignore the authority OF the man.
darins and hold no communication
with the outside world. Yet we have
visited their wild domain: we have
penetrated into their stronghold and
have Witnessed their strange customs
at had been our intention to steal
into the city under cover Of night. but
from our position of vantage we could
see that some religious demonstration
was In progress. and we did not dare
20 move. For half I'm hour our guides
natives crawled out on the plain and
returned with the information that
they had discovered Il considerable
cave In the hillside to the left OF the
town, which would screen us from oh
Servation aud at the same time permit
ns to watch the movements of those
inside the walls We had Just time 10
reach our place of concealment when
the leaders OF the procession entered
the narrow orltice and halted while
torches were being III TO guide their
passages through the gathering gloom,
Following them pressed the unkempt
crew. until the interior OF the dome
shaped cave was filled TO the point OF
suffocation.
For half an hour the ear torturlng
strife Of discord waxed louder nj every
moment until hundred devils In hui
man form fitted beneath the flare OF
pickering torches A frenzled enthusi
asst would leap into the mir. decorating
himself with knife. graspng the CORY
strip OF flesh and grinding II under his
heel. or haunting nelghbor into the
spirit OF emulation by Haunting before
his eyes the CHASTITY piece of flesh. Sud
denly from out the compact mass rose
4 howl Of mingled anguish and fury.
and solitary individual mounted
sort OF platform and stretched forth
his hand Evidently he was a high
priest Instantly there was silence
The light Of the torches enabled us &C.
see the man who had mounted the plat
form lie was tall. gaunt individS
ual. All his right side was naked. an
his face was covered with gaping rent
OF knife wounds. from which bloc
iricklcd.
~ garment of coarse cloth covere
his body below the waist Soon
saw FIVE Others follow him upon thd
platform. which was OF raised earth,
In recess In the wall ut the rear o.
the platform one could see the dis
tortcd form OF q gigantic image
stony. impressive figure ~ such gr,
tcsqne uglincss that one could not helm
wondering NOW " ENtF VI utNNN
ever unenlightencd. could bring thenit
selves 10 worship an object Of such re
pulslvcness. =
AT last a fearful moment was n
hand An old man was seized anu
stretched upon sort OF stone altar
raised above the platform. lie realize,-
his last hour had come. and he strugo
rlcd IN fear and fury 10 escape from
the grasp ~ his captors. giving ven
10 shrek after shrek until. exhausted
he fell into stupor. Four Of tho
priests held the family Struggling
body. while from the gloom stalkeu
forth the sacrifcial priest. his hand
holding long knife Once. twice
thrice he abased himself before the
image, and then. turning round like n
beast ready 10 leap upon It's prey. he
rushed toward the PROSTATE form. a
fash Of light and the keen blade sank
10 the hllt IN the flesh OF the victim.
Three times did the worshipcrs on
~ panr 1T aud uhooa