The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-09

family and lives within the enclosure
surrounded by the four towers. which
arc about go feet high. Tho stones
Of tho towers are Of the Nat. easily
split variety found on tho mountain
sides. and are held together by NOR.
tar
On approaching a section Of the
tribes country the European observed
far Off huge smokestacks OF stone
rising on the hiilsides to a height Of
ono hundred feet or more from the
fiat tops OF tho cliff houses. The
scene resembled somewhat a distant
view Of an industrial town. The
towers, whatever their use was in the
past, are now used for smoking and
drying meats. vegetables and fruits.
The gunpowder used by most OF the
tribes has been made for centuries
IN their mountain stronGholds by
process which is still unknown to the
Chinese, who are said to have been
tho originators Of gunpowder
On the road northwest OF Chcng-tu
DR.. Beech saw one tribe which APP
peared to be Of the same race as the
Czecho- Slovaks of Bohemia. They lived
In villages built OF massive stones
ranged tier on tier along the hillsides.
The women are very fond OF orna-
ments, and most OF them were loaded
down with bracelets, rings and ear
rings chiefly OF silver. with blue and
red stones found in that section Of the
country.
Perhaps tho Mao tribe is the most
! friendly OF tho forty. Two or three
boys have attended the missionary
schools; also some years ago DR.. Beech
cav Mao minstrel who wandered
about among tho Chinese singing,
dancing and playing long instru-
ment which somewhat resembled
banjo. The tribe has suffered greatly
| in wars with the Chinese and the Lolos,
but still remains independent and fair
" powerful. Another tribe Is distinct
| iy OF the brown race. It's members re-
sembling Ha~aiians in appearance.
! Most OF tho tribes are exceedingly
fierce and despise the Chinese and all
foreigners. A British naturalist named
Bruce, who succeeded IN penetrating
| a short distance into the country Of
| the tribes some years ago, wandered
away from his Chinese guides and
found himself surrounded by tribes
men. lie was compelled to surrender
his rife and was then Immediately de-
! capitated. His body was recovered
after some fighting. Poison Is known
and used by the natives in Kidding
| themselves OF undesired guests. A
missionary who accepted food from
them very nearly died from its effects
Their Moral Code Primitive.
The moral code is primitive. What
We call chastity does not exist until
after marriage. The Black 1.olos, a
tribe LOCATED between two branches
OF tho white Lolos near the southern
border OF Szechun. are worshippers
Of the black arts and followers OF de-
graded forms OF Lamaism and ami
mism. No foreigner has ever pene-
trated their country.
| Undoubtedly the Chinese OF the
southern provinces are not the orig
inal Inhabitants OF the country" DR..
Beech said in discussing west and
south China as a whole. There are
caves along the rivers which were In
habited by some primitive people be-
fore the Chinese aud possibly before
the tribesmen lived there. Traditions
Of these people may still DO found
among some OF the Chinese.
Two other races dwelling not In the
tribe country but in tho heart of
the Chinese Republic are also most in
terosting. One race consists OF Mo-
bammedans brought across central
Asia by tho Mongols to fight against
the Chinese After tho wars were
over each fighter was given a horse
a Chinese wife, and a piece Of land
and settled down southwest OF
Chengtu. Although they have inter-
married with the Chinese, as the
tribesmen have not. they still retain
many Mohammedan customs and some
Of them are Mohammedans In appear
anya
4 "The other race, OF which little is