MR RINGANG AT RUGBY.

Mataura Ensign, 13 May 1914, Page 3

MR RINGANG AT RUGBY.

TIBETAN BOY'S-SCHOOL LIFE. Mondor, Ringang, Gonkar, and Kyipup, four young peers in their own country of Tibet, in the highlands of Central Asia, are just ending their first term at Rugby School. One, at least, is destined to play a great part in the Government of Tibet, and they have gone to learn all England can teach. They went to England a year ago and settled first at Aldershot with their guardian, -Mr Ladenla, who is in the service of the Indian Government. Time and Rugby have worked a strange contrast. _ At Aldershot they were to be seen in all the dignity of their gorgeous purple robes; they spoke only a few words of English; everything to them was new and strange. It was difficult to realise the other day that they were the same boys; Mondor, who in the afternoon came like a whirlwind out of the gates of his house in the freedom of running shorts on his way for an hour's sprint, or Gonkar, walking down Church Street with an English chum, his mauve and blue-striped cap at the correct Rugby angle, who, when questioned, declared school life "tophole" (pronounced "t'pole"). Gonkar, who is in Lower Middle two : one of the lower classes, said: "I've had rippen time. I like football and running. We have no ball game in. Tibet. But we will have it." Rinigang's weakness is "squish" marmalade, which will, no doubt, also enjoy a boom in Tibet.

When the boys came they were a little shy, and their schoolfellows, too, were also reserved. But when Ringang in his third gam© of football shot a goal all reserve broke down and he and the others became popular. It proved, that the strangers were "civilised," and in due course came their nicknames —Tibby 1, 2, 3, 4—another sign of popularity. Mondor, the eldest, broke out during the term in a most surprising direction. He has developed into a pianist, although pianos are unknown in his own country. He also has a fine, rich voice, and was bubbling over jvith joy because on the previous night in an inter-house choral contest his side gained ai victory. To their, regret, the other three were not included in the team, as their idea of tune was too Tibetan.