LIFE IN THIBET.

Otago Witness, Issue 1933, 12 March 1891, Page 31

LIFE IN THIBET.

Mongols and Thibetans around the Kokotoor live alike, both equally wretched. Some tea leaves — or tea twigs rather — are pounded in a small stone mortar and then thrown into a kettle, and after boiling for a few minutes the pot is placed in the midst of the guests squatting around it on the ground. Each one draws from the bosom of his gown a little wooden bowl, also used on occasions as a wash-bowl, and fills it with tea. Taking a chunk of butter, except in summer fearfully rancid, he lets it melt in his bowl and then adds a handful of tsamba from the bag set before him. Then he works tea, butter, and tsamba into a ball of brown dough, which he eats, drinking as much tea as is necessary to wash down the sodden lumps. Suoh is the daily food of these people, only varied now and then by the addition of a little boiled mutton, sour milk, cheese, or lioma, which is .a small, sweet tubercle that grows in great profusion in the damper parts of Eastern Thibet and Kan-su, and tastes something like a sweet potato. In dress and habits the Thibetans living outside the Ghinese borders and in the vicinity of Kokonor are hardly distinguishable from those inhabiting the mountains of the Hsi-ning circuit, only their tribal organisation differing. These Thibetans living within the borders are called Amdowa, those outside of it Panak'a, and all of them are known to the Chinese as Fan-tzu, or

" BARBARIANS."

The Amdowa have a large number of petty chieftains, but, as far as I could learn, no prince or chief ruler ; but the Panak'a have two, the more influential — or rather the better known — of whom is the Konsa lama, who lives to the north of the Koko-nor. The present incumbent of this office, one hereditary in his faipilyi is called Arabian, and he is said to be the richest man among all his people. His fortune consists of 2000 sheep, 300 camels, and 300 ponies, worth altogether about 12,000d01. When this chief's father had grown old the son killed him and took his place. To kill one's aged parents is a common thing among these Panak'a, and even among the Mongols ; if the latter do not deliberately kill them, they hasten their death by all kinds of bad treatment. When among these Thibetans a person is dying, a relative or friend will approach him and inquire if he purposes coming back again after death. If he says he does, he is smothered ; but if he answers that he will not, he is permitted to die in peace. The exact meaning of this custom is not clear, but it may probably be found in the dread of

THE SPIRITS OP THE DEAD

haunting their former abodes. Dead bodies are not buried, but are exposed on the hillsides, where birds of prey devour them. If the body is rapidly devoured it is held to be a proof of the righteousness of the deceased ; but if the birds of the air, the wolves, and the foxes refuse to eat it, it is evidence of his wickedness. The bodies of lamas are burned, and the ashes deposited beneath a monument, or else they are disposed of as are those of laymen. Among the Thibetans a man marries only one wife, whom he purchases from her parents, a belle often costing as much as 10 ponies and 30 yaks. The price to be paid for the wife is arranged by a relative or a friend who acts as go-between, and

THE ONLY MARBIAGH CEREMONY

is a grand spree lasting as long as the bridegroom can afford to keep it up. The life of a Thibetan woman in this part of the country cannot be deemed a hard one. She makes the tea, it is true, but with that the housekeeping ends; for no one ever dreams of cleaning the kettle afterwards, and everyone has to mix his own tsamba and lick his bowl clean when he has finished. Every four or five years she may have to sew a new sheepskingown for herself or for someone of her family; but certainly not oftener. She cannot herd the cattle or sheep ; men must do that, as there is danger from marauders. She passes her time spinning yarn, weaving a coarse kind of cloth out of which bags are made, turning a prayer wheel, and — destroying

TOO VORACIOUS VBEMIN.

Her toilet requires rearranging only four or five times a year — when she visits Kumbum or some other fair ; she never washes herself or her garments, and her children cannot outgrow their clothes ; they have only to let out a little the folds of the gown, their unique garment, tucked up around the waist, and it will fit them until they are grown up. The men are not much more occupied than the women ; they herd their horses, yaks, and sheep without fatigue, and while smoking their pipes and gossiping with friends they shear their sheep and twist the wool into loose ropes, in which shape they carry it to Tankar to sell to the Chinese, and this is

THE HARDEST WORK OF THE YEAR.

The price of the wool, to which should be added that from tne sale of lambskins, yak hides, and a few turs, principally lynx ani fox, suffices to purchase all the tea, tsamba, and vermicelli they require; and the few iron or copper implements they make use of are made for them by itinerant Chinese blacksmiths who visit them now and then. — The Century.

LIVELY TRICKS OF HUMOUR.

The American special correspondent, bent on interviewing, is usually a very astute person, but he has been outwitted now and again. . There was an amusing case of a successful joke at his expense at Halifax, Nova Scotia, a few years ago. His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh called at the port, in command of his ship. A journalist from the States was ready to press forward and obtain " copy." It happened that a gentleman holding a Custom House appointment at Halifax had just come up with despatches for the Duke, and by a coincidence he was very liko Ms Itoynl Highne3s in build and features. A thought struck one of the ship's officers as the would-be interviewer invaded the cabin. Mr Jones, of the Customs, was standing, cap in band, talking to another officer. A wink was given him, and then tho newspaper correspondent was formally presented. Mr Jones was at first taken aback, but he soon understood what was afoot. He preserved a

solemn face ancl replied with marked condecension to the questions with which he was plied. When the officer who had conceived the trick judged that the Duke was likely to emerge from the stateroom, he found means to bow out the correspondent. Later, as the tale went abroad, the laugh in press circles was hearty, though it is probable the victimised journalist joined in with but a rueful face.

A humorous piece of fooling was perpetrated during a visit to the United States of Lord Chief Justice Coleridge. On bis arrival at Buffalo the distinguished guest received a petition, "In the matter of The Ancient Mariner, deed." This stated that, 11 Whereas there exist in the minds of your petitioners certain grave doubts as to the real meaning and intention desired to be conveyed by one Samuel Taylor Coleridge, professional poet, now deceased, in, through, and by his said production, yclept ' The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,' and furthermore, the termination of another of the productions of said Coleridge called ' Christabel' being abrupt and unsatisfactory — we do especially pray that your lordship will complete the said poem of • Christabel ' aforesaid, and most definitely and lucidly explain the exact meaning of the said 4 Rime of the Ancient Mariner' aforesaid. And your petitioners will ever pray."

Sham antiquarian inscriptions have been somewhat common tricks of humour. In 1756 a clever print appeared, with a group of wise men studying a Latin-looking line, which in reality was only : " Beneath this stone reposeth Claud Coster, tripe-seller, of Impington, as doth his consort, Jane." The jest was fairly true to fact. Jokes of this sort have deceived skilled antiquarians and archasologists.

The autograph craze was employed in a joke played upon Mr Samuel L. Clemens, better known as " Mark Twain." On a certain Ist of April the postman had a bigger budget than usual for the celebiated writer of "The Innocents Abroad," and by all deliveries the letters came thick and fast. There were 250 of the " extras "in all. One request was in each and every letter : Would Mark Twain be good enough to sign a scrap of paper for the applicant ? It was a plot of the humourist's friends, and by and bye a reporter appeared on the scene to take notes of the recipient's " Reflections on reading a monotonous correspondence,"

A peer of the realm, well known in his day in London society, put a set of obstinate servants greatly out of countenance by an amußing exposure. His maids would not go to church on rainy Sundays, though the sacred edifice was scarcely a stones-throw from the mansion. The nobleman did not care to issue an explicit command on such a subject ; but he laid his plans warily. The rumour ran that a new carriage was coming. Who could it be for 1 The coach houses were well furnished already. One wet Sunday the question was answered. A new covered waggonette was drawn up before the servants' door. His lordship's coachman sat on the box. It was whispered that the maids were to ride. Quite crestfallen, the girls gob in. Their discomfiture was completed by seeing the members of the family leave the front entrance with merely their umbrellas up, and follow in the rear of the waggonette. There was no more opposition to church going on the servants' part, whatever the weather.

The famous General Lee, Commander-in-Ohief of the Confederate forces in the great American Civil war, had much humour in his nature, and the following jest is related of him. On one occasion a (demijohn was seen carried into Lee's tent. Short commons was the order of things in the armies of the South ; but this looked as if the general was to enjoy luxury. Lee guessed that envy was working in the minds of his staff. About 12 o'clock he issued from his tent, and with a twinkle in his eye he said, "Perhaps you gentlemen would like a glass of something ? " There was instant and general assent. Lee directed the steward of the mess thereupon to carry the demijohn into the mess tent, and to set out the drinking vessels for the officers. The members of the staff came in, with pleasant anticipations of a treat. The general ordered the cork to be drawn and the contents to be distributed. Consternation fell on the guests. Lee's enjoyment and their disappointment may be imagined when the contents of the mysterious demijohn proved to be buttermilk 1

Few men can have been more given to impromptu triaks of a humorous, but not unkindly, sort than Cham, the great French caricaturist. He entered one day a grocer's shop. The assistants were slack, and several came forward to serve him. His manner was dignified, and even grave. Pausing in front of two open casks, Cham seemed in earnest thought. The shopmon waited. At last the humourist asked, in a melancholy voice, " What are these 1 " " Prunes, sir." " And these 1 " " Stewed pears, sir." "Ah 1 I shouldn't have thought it," said the strange visitor. And, shaking the grocer's hand with effusive gratitude, he added, " Thank you I One learns something new every day." Then he vanished.

A lively sally may produce discomfiture if it comes at an inappropriate moment. This was so in the case of a noted transatlantic lady lecturer. She was pouring out an impassioned harangue, and to all appearance carrying her audience with her. But suddenly bathos was obtruded into her glowing periods, and a wave of inopportune laughter went through the hall. The lecturer, in ringing tones, appealed against the alleged injustice of events, and asked, •'Ah! why was I born 7" She paused. Then she repeated the perilous question. And from the gallery came the thin, piping voice of a mischievous boy : " I give it up ! ' he said.