ng on the high plateau of Tibet beyond the titanic Himalayas. Here is a vast region only one-twentieth of which is covered with vegetation. Chains of m

t crops; in many other sections good crops are produced by very primitive methods of irr

great plateau range from fifteen to eighteen thousand feet above sea level. Scattered over these are single lakes and chains of lakes, many of which are salt. These vast areas, storm-swept in winter and baked by heat in summer, are frequented

d this section of the world; and the sacred city of Lasa with its h

cause of the high mountain barriers that are massed in a series of gigantic walls on

rs who took more desperate chances by forcing their way in. Among these may be mentioned Bower, Thorald, the Littledales, Rockhill, Captain Deasy, Sven Hedin, an

Himalaya Mou

TO

re sent against the invaders in 1903, and after several severe battles reached the forbidden city of Lasa, where a forced treaty was negotiated and signed. B

he Middle Ages. The country is under the suzerainty of China, which has a represe

t-ridden people know no better home and are contented with their lot. Of its three and

ean of learning," and the other the Bogodo Lama, or "precious teacher." With their subordinates, these two are supposed to

e of Lamaism. A deep but crude religious feeling tainted with the grossest supers

he body and to direct the spirit on its journey to paradise; the lama must also influence i

and in one of the lakes, where they can be reached only when the lake freezes, reside twenty monks. In the midst of

equently used to facilitate the repetition of prayers. Prayers numbering hundreds and even thousands are carefully written and placed, rolled up

be whirled around by those who pass by. Others provided with suitable fans are placed where they may be revolved by the wind. Somet

vel. The city is surrounded by a marsh and is reached by a causeway raised above the morass. It has wide and regular

reams formed by the melting snow course down the surrounding mountains, flooding the plain. At a

life size, is an object of the greatest reverence and adoration. It is made of a composition of metals, gold and silver predominating. Pries

uildings forming the Potala, or palace of the Dalai Lama. This huge, conglomerate structure of granite rising sto

g the stately edifice look like a huge diamond encircled with emeralds. Nothing but a blind religious zeal could have brought

nd inaccessible places and contain as many as seven thousand monks. Each lamasery has set apart for its use the best l

women, although the reverse would be expected. The support of the hordes o

a beast of burden, but furn

TO

biting cold they smear their faces with rancid butter, which, catching the smoke and dust, adds to the effectiveness as well as the strength of the odor. Their homes and places of worship

pirits in this world and of terrible punishments in the hereafter; the educated classes believe they can drive off or propitiate all evil influences in this world, but fear they may be changed in a fut

y serves as a beast of burden but furnishes rich milk, butter, and meat

s like the fleece of an Angora goat. The long, flowing hair of the tail reaches nearly to the ground

to the wooded valleys just below the snow line. During the summer they pasture on the higher elevations. In their wild sta

. The sheep, being of large size, are frequently used to bear small

ethods. In fact, gold is washed from every river which has its sources in the Tibetan plateau. Most of it in time finds its

d in exchange for wool, hides, musk, amber, and gold. The tea is an inferior kind known as "brick tea," being composed of the refuse, stems, and leaves of the plants cemented with rice water and pressed