Evening star., 1925-08-30

feelings Oh ms eminent SUBJECTS ana
entreated the Dalai Lama to become
the patron of his kingdom and to
grant him his help if he was ever at
tackled by enemies. The compassion
ate, exalted lama promised graciously
20 send him his army If the security of
England happened to be endangered.
Relying on stories of that kind and
misunderstanding some facts, the de-
tails of which are out of my present
subject, most Tfbetans are convinced
that they have in some way become
suzerains of Great Britain. So are
explained to them the temporary stays
at Lhasa of British political agent.
He comes. they think. to ask respect
fully the orders of the Lalai Lama to
convey them to his British ma jesty.
This is most funny, of course, but
there is to fun of that kind side
fraught with danger for white resi-
dents all over Asia, which only those
who have lived long in ut-of-the-way
SeGions are able to see clearly.
A FEW days after my visit to the
Potala ] went to see the 10
Khang Uhe house of the Lord. the
most sacred sanctuary of Tibet. It
was built to shelter an ancient image
of Siddharta Gautama as youth be.
was made in India, and it is supposed
that it was carried to China toward
the first century BE. The Chinese
Emperor, Thaijung T'aitsung. gave it
as dowry to his daughter when she
married the Tibetan King, Srong Tsan
Campo. Among the credulous Tibe-
tanS many legends circulate about that
image and its origin. Many say that
it is Self-Sprung, and ii is firmly be.
ha hnC
occasions.
On the upper story of the edifice.
beside the Jowo 0orD altar, in front of
which burn thousands of lamps. exist
q large number of rooms that contain
images of deities and of holy men.
1t is strange sight. that of the
crowd of pilgrims perambulating si-
lently in the dark, windowless edifice
between these motionless personages.
of which many are life size. The yell
lowiSh light of the butter lamps adds
to the strangeness of the spectacle.
Although the statues are of no artistic
interest whatever, special impression
emanates from these many faces. i'm
mutually serene. from these eyes whose
gaze seems turned inside instead of
looking at external objects, and which
tell of q mystic method that estab-
fishes the mind in an everlasting calm
l felt saddened at beholding the pro.
ceSsion OF worshipers lost in super.
stition. who are exactly following the
path that was condemned by the very
one to the memory of whom they pay
respect-'beings led by ignorance,
who tramp since fathomless ages the
Sorrowful road to renewed birth and
deaths"
The first creeping in of Western.
ciVIllZatlon at Lhasa can be seen in
the shape of soldiers clad in khaki. |
really enjoyed seeing them. headed by
a band which played. not too badly.
English tunes, marching in a swa gger-
ing way and out of time with the
music. They are armed with old Eng
lish guns that are still up to date in
most parts of central Asia. and even
possess a few pieces Of mountain artil-
lery that are carried on muleback
They are immensely proud of them,
ana air the short, fat. toad-like weap-
onS at any time and out of time, as if
they were pet dogs. One of them
burst, killing several men, but the ac.
cident did not lessen the admiration
that the Lhasa pas (people of Lhasa)
nave for those which remain. In that
blessed country occurrences of that
kind are even sometimes believed to be
auspicious. In this connection l can
relate fact which happened during
my stay at Lhasa.
X X
IT is the custom during the first
month of the year to cast lots and
TO look III many ways for omens re.
garding the prosperity or i'll luck that
Is TO come to the state, and especially
TO the person of the Dalai Lama.
one OF the omenS is obtained in Il
rather strange way. Three tents are
erected, and in each of them an ami
mai Is shut-a cock, a goat and a hare.
These beasts bear. hung around their
necks. charms which have been blessed
by the Dalai Lama. A number. of men
must fire at the tents. and if any of
the animals is wounded or killed it
means that calamities are awaiting
Tibet and its ruler. In that case the
monks of the three great monasteries.
Sera, Galden and Denung. must as
semble and during 20 DAYS read the
sacred scriptures and perform several
ceremonies to counteract the i'll will
OF the deitieS
The year I was at Lhasa about %
shots were fired at the tents, instead
OF 10. which IS the usual number.
English. Chinese and Tibetan guns
were used. One of the latter h1,rsf
and the man who had fired if was
severely wounded and died the next
day
jhe fact that no tent had been hit.
even after that prolonged test. was
considered as most auspicious. and the
accident which brought the death of
the man added greatly TO the conf
oence of the Tibetans regarding the
Weliare OF the lama king. The un-
rtunate commoner. they thought.
mad been taken by some angry demon
a l,n
existence of the ruler.
y very famous festival takes nIace
each year at LhaSa on the evening of
the ful moon of the first month
Lisht wooden structures of q large
size are entirely covered with orna.
mentS and images of gods. men and
ANIMALS. all made in butter. dyed in
ulHerent colorS. These frail structures
are called tormas. In front of each of
lhem many butter lamps burn on
small altar. That nocturnal feast is
meant to entertain the gods iust as
are certain concerts on the roofs of
the temples
very much enjoyed that part of
the New Year merrilnents. AS soon as
udfkheSS mad come and the lamps be-
gan to be lighted Yongden and I went
TO the Pa Kor. A dense crowd was
lnere, waiting for the Dalai Lama.
VINO was 10 go around to inspect the
tormas. l had more than once seen
big T1betan gatherings. but l went
through them with servants and other
attendants, who made a way for me.
rms was my first experience of being
part of the crowd myself
"A group of sturdy giants. covmen
clad IN sheepSkin, holding each other
ran for joy in the deepest of the
throng, their big fists belaboring the
ribs of those whom bad luck had
placed on their way. Policemen
armed with long sticks and whips
growing more and more excited as tha