The sun., 1919-01-27
WHITE GIANT TRIBE
IN CENTRAL ASIA
Head Of West China University
Tells Of Great Fighting
Race.
HIDDEN IN MOUNTAINS
Dwarfs and Other Curious
People Described by DR..
Joseph Beech.
HIDDEN IN MOUNTAINS

rr Joseph Beech. president Of the
West China Union University at Cheng-
u ard who has passed twenty years in
China. has returned to the United states
with curious tales of the mysteries Of
Central Asia, OF the Museum of the
Worlds Races" Since DR.. Beech Il n
missionary and a famous one. his tales
are not. perhaps. TO be secuted: but
some OF them are amazing.
Take that one, for example, Of the
strange white race that abides In west
ern China. race of men much like
Erglishmen or Americans. DR.. Beech
heard persistently, and renowned
throughout Central Asia for their furious
courage. He did not encounter any Of
these prodigies himself. but he heard a
lot about them. 1t revives the ancient
legend OF the mysterious white nation
hidden away in Central Asian mountains,
race that was there when the tabled
Prester John ruled.
Dr. Beech. talking yesterday at the
Hotel Chelsea. said ne visited sections Of
western China where the foot of white
man had never been set. encountered
forty or fifty different tribes; actually
saw race of white men that resembled
Bohemians: found a race OF four foot
dVarfs, and was amazed at the variety
Of peoples Graded In the heart OF the
world. He went on TO say:
Furious Fighting Men.
Then there was a tribe of good sized
men who. for all I could see were ex-
actlv likeNhe Bohemians you might meet
or the streets OF Prague.
Other people met were like the
Hawaiians I had seen In Honolulu. There
was also tribe resembling the Chinese
N appearance. but they were not Chi
reese in language or customs. Another
tribe looked like Tibetans. Tibet is Just
70 the west. but these peonle were not
Tibetans. They spoke n different Ian
guage and disclaimed relationship.
Many Of my friends have told me of
another tribe which. rs one Chinese put
r. are Just like you am sorry I was
not able to visit this people. They live
n the district Of Sung Pan. Sung Pan
Il also the name of a Chinese military
outpost in the district. 1t Is ten days
tourney, or about 500 miles. northwest
Of Chengtu.
This tribe resembling Anglo-Saxons
Was described 10 me as consisting of
large. furious men. whose bravery is con-
sIFTtu sp1Hc"Hdl VI IIdiNrl " tHe
Chinese. They never run away, any
more than you tmeaning Americans and
Europeans) do my Chinese friend told
ne They love TO fight
~ was told the men often fight duels
on horseback which in some respects re-
call the duets of the Middle Ages. The
duellists start the fight with a discharge
- short blunderbusses. These are go
heavy they have to rest them on a
wooden cross attached to the saddle bow.
I Judged they were made by native
workmen and rather inefficient weapons.
hurling a handful OF siugs.
DueIs to a Finish.
Tho second stage Of the duel is
fought with stones, Of which each has a
Tag. II the bags are exhausted without
doing serious injury 10 either man the
iUa'lists draw nearer and throw spears
t,ed TO the ends of ropes so they can be
pulled back and thrown again. Mean
while the two horsemen are circling
around and constantly getting closer.
In the final stage the antagonists
ride up to each other and fight hip II
hp with great swords, after the fashion
o. Richard the Lion Hearted. The duel
always goes to a decision, my Chinese
friend told me.
These mountain tribes are almost ali
great fighters and despise the fighting
ability Of the Chinese. What was my
surprise on reaching the border between
China and the tribes country, In a
mountain valley, to see an enormous