New-York tribune., 1919-02-07

roofs of the houses. just as in the Holy
Land. The houses themselves are moth
ing more than boxes, with perhaps one
window, from which the odors and
smoke of cooking escape.
"On top of practically all the forti-
fed castles flags was flown. was
told these were prayer flags and had
no special tribal or patriotic signif-
cance. Every man in the country, ap-
parentiy, is "a law unto himself Each
tribe has it's chieftain. but there is no
national head and China exercises only
nominal sovereignty.
"Quarrels are settled on horseback
with blunderbusses, spears, bags Of
stones and broadswords. The enemies
challenge each other, and at a given
signal ride full tilt on small wiry
ponies at each other. 1t is seldom that
both combatants escape alive, but the
survivor is required 70 feed and clothe
the family of his dead adversary as
long as they live, and this makes 'duels'
rare. In many respects these combats
resemble the tournaments of the Mid
die Ages"
Many Tribes Found
DR.. Beech said that while he be-
leved he had penetrated further into
this section of Western China than any
other white man, he regretted that he
had not gone still further.
For my guide" said he, said that
four or five days journey beyond there
were tribesmen, near Sungpan, who
are just like you are'--that is, natives
who appeared like Americans. Their
dress, conversation and mode of living
were characteristic of the country.
"How so many different types of peo-
pie located there is a problem for the
ethnologist,' resumed DR.. Beach. zone
theory IS that they represent all the
warning tribal clements that have
come into the continent of Asia and,
driven by the Mongols and Tartars
made their last stand in this natural
refuge between India, China and the
northern part of Asia.
Each tribe is independent of the
others. all speak {; patois of Tibetan
and Turkestai. and their religion
seems to be aNlm.stic, or that of the
Lamas. The nacst numerous are the
Lolos, which again are subdivided into
smaller tribes. Others are the Miaos,
who are polyandrous or polygamous.
These people, | believe, are responsive
to Christian influences and kind treat
ment, and $50 missionaries would bring
to them the enlightenment they so
much need. Nothing has ever been
done for them by civilization.
Great Trade Field Open
"All of the natives are farmers or
herdsmen. The latter raise huge num-
bers of goats. hundreds of thousands
OF which can be seen on the mountain
sides. Recently, or since the Chinese
have equipped their army with modern
rifles, the Chinese have opened up
trading with the 'tu-ren' and now vast
quantities of raw wool and hides are
being exchanged. The Chinese. too,
are utilizing some of the valleys to
raise opium but this is done without
the approval of the Peking govern
ment."
Speaking of the possibilities for ex-
panding trade in the Orient. DR.. Beech
declared China alone could enable the
great powers to recoup their war losses
"Ihey are hungry for American
goods he said, "and the field is un
limited The Chinese people are high
ly cultured, even the poor coolies. and
they desire only the best things. China
is rich in untold, undeveloped re-
sources. Make it possible to develop
the resources of China and the Chi
nese people will become the greatest
aggregation of purchasers in the
world "