Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-31
T|BETAN CLASSICS
ENHANCED IN VALUE
Burning of Buddhist Mones-
terry Makes Wood Blocks.
Here Priceless.

1.-The slaughter of thousands Of
Chinese and Tibetans in Dangar, IN
Western China, reported in news dis
patches, brings about strange result
in the Library of Congress, where it
has probably enhanced in value beyond
all previously estimated prices set Of
Tibetan classics says bulletin from
the National Geographic Society.
"Dangar lies close to Choni, in West
ern Kansu Province, near the Tibetan
border" continues the bulletin, land
the great Buddhist Monastery at Choni
and all its valuable contents were
burned by the same MoSlem army
which massacred the inhabitants of
Dangar. In this monastery were housed
the thousands of wooden blocks, 500
years old, from which the best sets OF
the Tibetan classics were once printed
Two years ago DR.. Joseph F. Rock, now
leading National Geographic Society
expedition on the na-Tibetan border,
400 miles south of the rebellion area
was in Chont, and obtained for the
Library of Congress a complete set OF
the Choni-printed classics in BIT
volumes. These priceless books are now
on the Library's shelves in Washington.
NIaSSdcEe merely an AHClucHts
"Details of the Moslem rebellion in
Kansu, which have Just reached the
headquarters of the National Geographic
Society, indicate that the massacre at
Dangar was only an incident in the
troubles that have scourged Western
Kansu since last october. In the region
Choni and in most of the surrounding
towns and villages, according to these
reports, there has been destruction by
massacre, pillage and fire. Thousands
of square miles of the once fertile
countryside have been laid waste. Tens
of thousands of people, in addition to
those slaughtered, have died and are
dying of starvation, and the frantic
populace are said to be practicing
cannibalism.
THE chief force of Moslem raiders,
according to provincial correspondents,
consists of $4,000 cavalrymen, mounted
on the best horses of the province, and
led by an 18-year-old general, Ma
Changing called affectionately by his
followers, Ka Sizing, Little Generally
These hard-riding troopers have been
known to dash, 10000 strong, ITO miles
in At hours over mountain ranges
10000 to. 10000 feet high, to avenge
the defeat of some of their StragglerS.
border, all the inhabitants Of more
than hundred villages. from infants
to old men and women, are said to
have maSsacred.
500 Miles West of Peiping.
1.-THE region which has been the cen
ter of the Moslem maSSacreS lies about
800 miles west and slightly south of
Peiping (Peking), on the upper reaches
Of the Hwang-Ho or Yellow River, near
Tibetan source into China. A little to
the northwest is the Koko Nor, great
salt lake of Northeastern Tibet. The
region on the Chinese side is land Of
deep valleys carved in the soft loess
soil. In happier days the valley lands
and the teraced hills produced much
wheat and many vegetables, and sup
ported numerous villages. The people
are largely of Tibetan blood.
During his stay of several years ago
at Chino, DR.. Rock, through the friend
illness of the Prince of Choni, was en-
abled closely to observe the ceremonies
of Lamaism. His descriptions have
been PUBLISHED in the National Geo.
graphic Magazine. He took hundreds
of photographs, with detailed notes for
color. of the monastery buildings, the
library, the elaborate images and cos
tunes, and of the ceremonial dances.
1t thus happens that this unique mon
astery, now in ashes in remote Western
China, still lives pictorially in the
archives of the National Geographic
Society in Washington"
Sr,1,o