“ROOF OF THE WORLD”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11949, 20 May 1933, Page 12

“ROOF OF THE WORLD”

1,1 FE ON TIBETAN BORDER

Bataiig, one of the most remolc town s in’ Asia, fuff up the Yangtse river on the frontier, wa s recently under siege for two months by Tibetan tribesmen, with both Tibetan attackers and Chinese defenders occupying buildings'of American missionaries. A bulletin from the National Geographic Society of America tells of Bataiig and the surrounding

country. • . , “The border region,” says the b 1letin, “is a country of mountains. Batang, the chief city, lg one of the lowest points, and yet its, altitude is 9000 feet above sea-level, nearly fourfifths of a mile higher than Denver. “Most of the surrounding country i s 12,000 to 15,000 feet high, th<? latter altitude being more than 500 feet higher than Mount Whitney, California, highest peak in the United States proper. From this groat upland rise numerous P ca ks 90,000 feet and more in height. “The view from the summits ot some of the passes that, must bo traversed in travelling about t.us marvellously rugged country can hardly be surpassed anywhere m the world. The panorama for hundreds of miles on a clear day is cue of countless high peaks interspersed with greater snowy masses that exceed Tn height tho topmost pinnacles of all other continents. “Below timbor-line are some fine forests, and the alpine-lik© Hovers of the short summer ar e exceedingly beautiful. Here and there among the mountains arc clear, sparkling lakes, their waters so cold that in most of them fish cannot live.

“Kbam, the easternmost province of Tibet, gives its colour to the entire border region, and its people are said to be the most robust of all Tibetans. Many cf the people of Kham are nomads, who tend their flocks of sheep and yak as they graze o v er the uplands and live in black yak-hair tents. Other more settled people live in mud-walied houses and engage in a crude sort of farming in the valleys, where the altitude is low enough- fev grain "to inu.tuio. “The nomads live 'the year round in their tents, seldom even entering a house. When the lower slopes of the mountains become free irotn sue* in the spring they begin then upward pilgrimage with their herds, closely following the receding snow ]iue, -until in summer 'they are living far up in the highlands and e n the sides of the peaks. •••'When winter begins to set in they make the reverse journey, going down to tho valleys only ag rust as the descending snow lino drives them. In thig way they are able to utilise tho supply of grass to best advantage. “The herders remain close to the snow also because their yak thrive best in a cold temperature and cannot, in fact, stand any great degree of heat, especially if introduce.l into the warmer temperature, suddenly. “So carefully must th c yak's predilection for cold he indulged that traders bringing supplies iu summer from the high country to Batang will not drive their animals into the town. They unload 10 miles from their destination, at a point about 12,000 feet high, and the Batang consignees must provide transportation for ilie remainder ef the distance to the 9000-foof level. “The towns of Tibet are in most eases small groups of dwellinghouses and a few shops in valleys at the foot of steps and winding paths leading to- seme monastery that towers above o.r the steep mountain* side. Batang differs from the typical town in having a much larger group of houses and in being surrounded by an-extensive area of terraced fields. A huge monastery for lamas existed above the town at one time, bub was destroyed bv. -the Chinese during one of >their - invasions. Batang derives most of its importance from the .trade route between China'and Tibet which passes through tho place. .■ " r • ■ ' ‘.‘The Eastern ’ Tibetans ' live on queer foods from a foreigner's .■ point of .view. One staple is parched barley meal, .called' ‘tsamba.’ Another i 8 ‘butter tea.’ ' First strong tea is made, and into it is clipmed yak butter and salt, . . A third food is dried milk. Many tribesmen ' cat practieally.no other, foods, the year round. -

"Most of the . married, women among th e -. Eastern Tibetan's **=ve' a number of husbands ■ simultaneojisly, They ' Usually- - marry three or. , tour brothers. ' One- litisband.Avill take, care of 'the-home in the Valley, ,if: there oil©; 1 another will- be-iilichgrge of ,th.o) valt or'sheep'in the uplands-; a. third. Avill ho tlib trader.' taking'care of the. caravan; while btiW will- bo aasigued to still other special duties ”•