The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-01-25

tibSIdu E3SOSSS III no
(Preparad by the National Geoe "a phic So ,
ciety, Washington. D. c.
Few countries are more Isolated
than Tibet with the huge pulk of
China hemming it in on the east tire
worlds greatest rampant OF moul-
tains to the south and west, s-,d vast
desert eXpanse to the north. Behind
these bulwarks Tibet has existed for
centuries, inhospitable to the knock
ing of modern ideas; and it is ,olay
therefore, in institutions and C, stoms
one of the most primitive of the larg-
err continental countries which have
any semblance of governmental ma
chinery. Buddhism seems to have
been the only one of the great FORCES
molding the outside world which made
itself felt behind Tibet's towering
mountains and even that force, hav-
ing once gained success, has been al
most swallowed up in the devil wor-
ship which is the highest religion that
the Tibetans themselves have evolved.
Until few years ago the West
knew practically nothing of Tibet ex-
cept the rather doubtful information
brought to the outside world by a few
adventurous travellers of the middle
ages. Explorer after explorer dur
ing the past century was turned back
with but tleeting glimpse of the
edge of the unknown land, usually in
the sparsely settled regions of the
north.
But though much of Tilet is I'M
known, civilization has set few out
posts in the eastern edge os the coun-
trv close to the Chinese border, ami
so has come to know provincial Ii
bet fairly we'll. The valley of the
YangtZe. where that greatest of Chi
uese rivers flows almost due south at
rhe eastern end of the Himalayas,
forms the southern portion of the bor-
der between China proper and TIBET.
Theoretically Tibet is vaSsal state OF
China, but actually since the Chinese
revolution Tibet has kept all Chinese
officials out and has swum free under
her ruling priests. Even the region
on the China side of the Iangtze Is
more Tibetan than Chinese.
This border region, which is better
known to the outside world than any
other part of Tibet, is country OF
high plateaus and muntains. The prln'
cipal city of the region, Batang, Is
one of the lowest points, yet its altl-
| tude is 5000 feet above sea level
| nearlv twice that of Denver. Much
| Of the surrounding plateau Is l2,OOC
TO $4,000 feet high. From TINS great
| INLAND rise numerous peaks 2oOVV
feet and more in height.
Tremendous Mountain Panorama.
The view from the submits Of some
of the passes that must be traverseo
In travelling about this marvelousls
r,goed country can hardly be sur
n,Ssed anywhere in the world. The
panorama for hundreds OF miles Oh
a clear day is one of countless hlsi
raoks interspersed with greater snowy
,,,sses that exceed in height the top
most pinnacles of all other eon'Ihel''S
r.,,w timber line are some me for'
.sts and the Alpine-tike flowers VI
,ha short summer are eNceeu"ls'
h,,utiful Here and there among the
,,,nnntains are clear. sparkling lakes
tb.ir waters So cold that i'll most oi
Them fish cannot live.
Many of the Tibetans are hoiiiaus
tordiur hocks of sheep ana yak vi
the uplands, and living i'll piack' YAK
,,;. ,ents In those valleys when
~, low enough TO permit the matur
inc Of grain, other Tibetans prac''ce
n 7,ude sort of agriculture.
In spite of the cold winters the tent
+, t,n ,eor-around home OF the no
maids aud they seldom even enter
house. As the snow meItS Oh INK
,.ar s,nnes of the mountains in the
snrip, they follow their herds up
.I from the valleys in its tram
"n,;l in midsummer they are il'lhs
~, in the highlands and on ths
80 nf the peaks. When winter De
80 set in they make the reverse
inur,,ey. going down to the 'a.e a,.
,ply as fast as the descending S''"
Inc drives them. ou ,o,,svs
~" T,o farrers Of the lower valleys
! ~ substantial houses OF muo