LIFE IN TIBET.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17317, 1 December 1921, Page 7

LIFE IN TIBET.

CURIOUS MARRIAGE CUSTOMS. (JBy Cable—Press AMOoiatJoa-CopTriglit.) (Unittd Serrioo.) LONDON, November 29. Interviewed by the "Daily Mail," Mr F. Thomas, chief librarian to the India Office, who has returned from a holiday in the mysterious land beyond the Himalayas, gives a fascinating account of the life of the little-frequented parts of Tibet, where the woman proposes and can haive as many as ten husbands. If she marries one of ten brothers because she is in love with him, the law compels her to marry all,' either at the same time or at intervals. In the test families, care is taken to see that all the brothers are not at home at the same time. If one is at home, the others absent themselves. The marriage ceremony is curious. It includes throwing an imitation sword at the bride, to intimidate evil spirits. Men and women work together in the fields, but adjourn every half-hour for barley beer.

Mr Thomas visited the Tibetan monasteries. He says th e literature represents the mediaeval literature of India, and is full of abstruse metaphysics .