THE DALAI LAMA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2848, 14 October 1908, Page 27

THE DALAI LAMA.

♦ PEKING, October 7. Tho Chinese Government is indignant over tbe Dalai Lama's refusal to discuss reforms in Tibet. The audience with ths Emperor has been postponed. Th© Dal-ii Lama has boon very Joth to 1-eaie- his snuy retreat, and has for fomo time pa,sfc resisted the entreaties of tho Chinese authorities to visit Peking, aithough Prince- Ching intructed tho local Governor to assure him that the Government would accord him such courtesy as was due to his position during his 6tay in the- capital, and had not the slightest intention of <taing him any harm. All that China desired to do was to confer with him in person about the reorganisation, of Tibet, so a 6 to introduce "Western reforms there for the benefit of both China and the vassal etate. During the stay of the Dalai Lama at Wutaishan tho temple was regarded as a specially holy place, and pilgrimages were made by large numbers of Buddhist*. The followers of the Dalai Lama, equally with "their master, recognise the cosh value o£ being a holy man, for the unfortunate pulgrims found that access to the Grand Lama was possible only by bribing the greedy janitors. When they were vouchsafed the vision of holiness incarnate, the splendour . of tho eight was somewhat dimmed by demands for presents and money gifts,

delivered in -a tone that meant business and admitted no refusal. The supercilious attitude of the Dalai Lama has be-sn consistently maintained even towards Europeans. Mr W Rcckhill, the United States Minister to China, lately paid a visit to the pontiff, accompanied by Baron Hex, who bore a photograph of the German Emperor as a present. The DaJai wa3 not as pleased with the present a 6 the Kaiser ha<l perhaps counted on, for he received tha visitors very coolly, and showed them scant courtesy.