THE FORBIDDEN CITY.

Evening Star, Issue 12164, 7 April 1904, Page 7

THE FORBIDDEN CITY.

■ ■**■ • Lhassa, or Lhadan as it 'is sometimes called, means the "land of the gods" or lull of gods." It was founded in the seventh century a.d. by the Khan SrontszanGambo, who, it is related, had among his wives a Nepaulese and' a Chinese princess n DC Li he X , brou g ht with them statues of Uuddfca Sakya Muni. For these statues temples were built in Lhassa, and the Khan settled on the hill where now stands the palaco of the Dalai-Lama—the supreme ruler of Thibet both in spiritual and worldly''affairs The city is situated (says the ' Strand Magazine') ma broad plain, bordered on one side by the Wi-chou, and on the other bv the high mountains on its right bank. ' Not counting fiodala, the residence of the DalaiLama, it is almost circular in form, with a diameter of about one English inile. However, numerous parks to'the south and west, the proximity of Bodola arid two ' other palaces, have caused its'girth to be stated as about twenty-five miles. As a matter of fact, the circular road around the city is not more than eight miles long. The devout are in the habit of making the circuit, prostrating themselves continually. A zealous pilgrim can complete the journey in two days, making 3,000 prostrations a day/ They travel, in fact, on their stomachs, drawing up their legs as far as possible, and pushing themselves forward a body's length at a time, standing erect, however, between the movements, and falling flat again. Sometimes tho pilgrims protect their hands with ] boards, though these are not the most feri vent devotees. Thus they traverse riot only | the circuit of the city, but often pass three i times and even seven times round it. The j last feat takes about a' fortnight, and reI quires 42,000 prostrations!