Evening star., 1925-08-30

ruSe as weapons was not yet over.
1 was at Lhasa, and now the mat
Ter was to stay at Lhasa. Although
had endeavored TO reach the Tibetan
capital rather because / had been chal-
lenged than out of a real desire to visit
II, now that, at the cost of so much
hardship and danger, | stood on the
forbidden ground, | meant to enjoy
myself in all possible ways
] would really have felt ashamed of
myself had I now been caught, locked
up somewhere and taken back to the
border. having had only a superficial
and brief look at the outside of the
palaces and temples. This should not
happen. No, ! would climb TO the top
OF the Potala Itself, I would visit the
most famous shrineS, the large, his
torfcal monasteres in the vicinity of
Jhas sa, and | would witness the re-
llgious ceremonies, the races. the
pageants of the New Year festival.
All sights, all things which were
l-hasa's own beauty and popularity
would have to entertain the lone
woman explorer who had had the
nerve to come to them from afar, the
first of her sex and race. 1t was my
Well won reward after the trials of
The road and those of several years of
unsuccessful attempts. intended
that nobody should keep me from it.
l decided that I would first visit the
tPotala. AS the future was uncertain
and my incognito precarious, pru-
dence advised me to hurry my sight
seeing tour. AS l was on my way
with Yongden, ! thought that II would
be safer for me either TO Join some
pilgrims or in some other way manage
10 enter the palace with a group of
people. The unquestionable authen-
ficity of true Tibetan companions
would prevent doubts of mine. Unfor-
tunately, we did not meet dokpas or
other borderland people, and I was
already resigned to proceed with
fongden alone when I noticed two
men, wearing the plain white coarse
serge dress of villas gers, strolling a
little distance from the first gate.
Let us take these two with u.s." I
said to Yongden.
How could we ask them such a
thing" he replied. Maybe they do
not wish to go to the Potala.'
Let us try" l continued They
look just the dear. good, stupid fel.
lows whom we need"
In a few words I instructed Yong
rten about the part he was to play
= y y =
JUST at that time group of work
men came along, carrying huge
trunks of trees, People threw them.
selves hurriedly aside to be out of
their way, and Yongden took that op-
portunity, to give a push in the back
of one of the peasants.
"Atsi" he exclaimed politely. az
did not see you"
NO harm. lama" answered the
man.
Where are you FROM" inquired my
companion, with the patronizing tone
of full-fedged deniZen of the capital
speaking to country folk
They told the name of their village,
and informed us that they had come
TO Lhasa to sell barley, had finished
fheir business and thought only to en-.
Joy themselves little in the big city
before leaving on the morrow.
You are going to meet-{this is a
respectful way of speaking of a visit
70 holy placerthe Potala," said
Tongden, as if he knew it certainly.
The men confessed they did not In.
tend to do SO. They had met II on
several other occasions. Then Yong
den. talking with the authority of one
OF the monks Of the Potala. told them
about the religious merits that such a
visit produced, and that New Year
was the proper time to perform meri-
torious deeds. Rather than lettering
sn the street and drinking spirits in
the public houses, they ought to pay
cilCe TO the fOtala ShrfneS.
Assuming an air of profound COM
passion and kindness. he added that
Bs they had been brought in his way
he was willing to lead them around the
shrines and TO tell them the names
and stories of the deities That was,
OF course, wonderful opportunity.
The faces of the two simpIetons were
beamtng. and they followed the lama.
rejoicing and thankful. Like all Ii
hat
. minded.
Behind them, full of confidence. 1
Climbed the long flight of steps and
reached an upper gate. The three
men walked in first, strong in the su-
periority of the male. l was to follow
humbly. But boy, a 10 or IL year
old boy. novice lama. short and fat,
with red face, fiat nose and large
ears, looking like a gnome in a cleri-
cal robe twice too large for his size. !
stopped me. He was acting there as
doorkeeper. and he ordered me rudely
TO take off my fur-lined bonnet, such
headgear not being allowed inside the
Potala
What calamity. | had forgotten
that to these honnets the Potala was
forbidden ground, as it was 10 myself (
j had worn mine q long time, ever
since it had been sent to mel nearly !
helieve-by some friends from an IN
visible world. 10 provide me with
most useful piece of disguise. 1t shell |
tered my face, and felt more pro |
Sected against detection when I had il |
on my head. What now? Ny hair |
had turned back to it's natural brown /
shade. The Chinese ink used as dye /
had been worn away before | reached |
Ihasa, and in my present dwelling. |
with cracks in doors and walls. |
Through which my neighbors could |
peep at any time. ! had not been able !
70 darkeQ IL anew. f. no longer |
snatched the jet black yak hair braids |
that ! wore, and these had gradually |
lost large part of their substance |
until they had become thin. thin, re- !
duced to the size of q rats tail.
They were all right. however. with the |
bonnet on. They ShadoWed my fore |
heal enough to reproduce vaguely the |
hair dress of some dokpa tribes. But |
now that ] had to obey that horrid |
little toad and take off my bonnet, / |
knew that l looked funnier than any
clown who had ever exhibited in any |
circus Of the world.
:: :: :: ::
HOWEVER. escape was impossible /
- l hid my bonnet under my dress. ,
rs | was ordered to do. and rejoined !
sny companions. Yongden had lin |
Eered a little, waiting for me. At the ,
first glance, stricken with terror. he !
opened a wide mouth and hardly sup |
pressed an exclamation.
What have you done?" he said in |
tiisn1ay. who took your bonnet |
Rway?'
II am not allowed to proceed with |
St on / answered hurriedly.
You look like a Demon" he con- |
tinued. trembling II never saw such |