SCHOOLBOYS FROM TIBET.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXX, Issue 1, 1 July 1913, Page 8

SCHOOLBOYS FROM TIBET.

ARRIVAL IX ENGLAND

As I stood in pelting rain outside the house of Mr Gould at Heath End, near Aldershot, a boy sprang out of a shrubbery and opened the door for me (stated the 'Daily Mail's' special correspondent on April 29). Ho was dressed in a bright yellow suit, was hatless, and looked for all the world like a Japanese. He grinned broadly and i.n silence motioned me to enter.

Ho was Gongkar, one of the 10 Tibetans who landed in England last Friday. L'hey had just been to Wellington in a "hinghorlo" (motor-car). 1 could attract no expression of admiration, for they told me that there were two cars in Tibet. What the young people did admire, however, was' Wellington College. It is probable that the five younger Tibetans will go to school in England, and they have already fallen in love with Wellington on account of the "box-like places" (studies) they have seen there. First Woman from Tibet.

The soul of the party is Mr Ladenla, who is in the service of the Indian Government. He has the manner and tact of a diplomatist. One of his party ;s related to the Dalai Lama, and another, the wife of a Tibetan Civil Servant, is the first Tibetan woman to visit England. The five boys are dressed in native garments—long purple tunics with a yellow sash round the waist, like a dressing-gown. Mr Ladenla assured me that the material was broadcloth sent to Lb-assa front Manchester.

I was fortunate enough to bo asked to have "eha" (tea) with our Tibetan visitors. The boys at present are being broken into the Spartan life of an I'higlish public school. They get up at G a.m., work at English till 8.30, then have breakfast. Work then takes up their time until midday. After that they either motor or play tennis, at which, it is to be feared, they are"not vet very proficient. At 6 p.m. they havo a school high tea, ajid at nine they ,go to bed. Topge, "The Conjuror." Ultimately they are to join the Tibetan Government Service. They have been brought here to receive the education that has done so much to province our own Indian Civjl Service. I could not help thinking as I sat at tea with them how vivacious they all were, and how different from' their brooding neighbor, the Indian native. They knew, of course, only a few words of English, but of these they made the most excellent use. Mr Ladenla's son (Topge) was at school for six years in Darjeeriing, and will soon be able to speak English a.s well as his father. He looks the brightest and cleverest of them all. Perhaps we shall hear of him again. His name means "the Conqueror."