The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
EXPLORER GUEST IF: LIVE GODDESS
She Rules Monks And Can Make Them Pigs At Will.
 Shoot Craps With Devil

LONDON. Jan. Il. Tho days of ban quoting with the deities did not end with the explosion of old Roman theism as myth, for Sir Charles Bell, who has just returned to Lon- don after a years sojourn in Tibet reports that whiie at Sanding. one of the few important towns in that country last year, he had tea with a goddess. She is not common god dess either. but ranks as an incarna- tion of a Buddhist deity. and as such is the highest lady in tho land. She rules over monastery of 5s monks, whom she can convert into pigs whenever she likes. This at least is what her Tibetan subjects be- her not only high social position, but an income as well. Sir Charles says he was the first white man to visit the goddess" who, after a sprightly conversation. regaled him with an excellent meal.
 The Tibetan explorer describes her as about 24 years old, with a pensive mien and an air of quiet dignity. In accordance with Tibetan custom the hostess and guest exchanged pres ents.
 Teaches Her to Tell Time.
 Sir Charles gave her the first watch she had ever seen and taught her how to tell the time. Until then she. like all the natives, had lost track of the hours, knowing only that sum rise was natures signal to arise and unset indicated bedtime.
 Sir Charles. in relating his experi- ences. described the great prayer service of the Lamas, at which 12,000 monks assisted. These officiates were divided into sections and placed wherever room could be found for them. At various places priests were stationed. armed with stout poles eight or nine feet long and some six inches in circumference. One of them belabored monk who was not taking proper part in the service.
 The Dalai Lama, said Sir Charlesy is the chief Buddhist monk of Tibet. and rules an area of some halT a million square miles. There aha no railways, no roads and no pnSJor cars in his domain. It Is lapd of nbun- tain, desert and unbr5dRed rivers: a land of snow and 1eg and blixzards. last ten days of the second Tihetan month, corresponding with the early part of April, are taken up by a festival known as the Tsoncho or "The Offerings of the Assembly," One of the rites of this festival is a crapshooting contest between the
 
 devil wins, evil will triumph during the next year and the people of Tibet will suffer.
 O O o
 Ostracizlng the Devil.
 Should the Dalai Lama load his dice, however, and win the match the year will be one of bounty and happiness for his subjects. The devils delegate in the match Is the Serpent King, who wears a long coat of white goatskin and a long peaked hat and carries in his right hand the black tail of yak. His face. white on one side and black on the other shows that he is double-faced rogue full of deceit.
 Whether he wins or loses, the Ser pent King, after the dice throwing which takes place at the entrance ot the temple in Chanchupling, thirty miles from Lhasa, the capital, be. comes the scapegoat of the country He is driven from the city and bears l the evil with him. He also takes witf l it a good deal of money. for the | T1betan government not only give. l him presents. but many person, l make him offerings on the under. | standing that he take his or hel | troubles out of town.