People Talked About

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XIII, 26 March 1904, Page 2

People Talked About

Some Prominent Shots at the Trentham Championship Rifle Meeting*.

The Grand Lama. The adventurous Japanese traveller. Ekai Kawaguchi, writes of his experiences in 'Tibet, in the “Century Magazine,” which are rather interesting, in view <>f the British Mission's journey to that mysterious country. Leaving Japan in 189". he went to Darjilin and set to work to learn the Tibetan language. This he accomplished in sixteen months, and. wearing the garb of a Tibetan lama, he entered the forbidden country. Success attended him. and he was able to live for many months in Lhas-a ilself and mix with every class of priest. Ekai Kawaguchi’s sole object was to complete his studies of Buddhism. "The raison d'etre of the Tibetan (haeniinciit. savs the writer, is

the preservation and maintenance of Buddhism. So the policy of the closed door and seclusion was originally adopted for the same reason. But this policy has now undergone a change in character. and has become a vital principle of national preservation vital as considered by Tibetans.” Of the DalaiLama he says: "He is a young man. now twenty-eight years of age. with a

line, intelligent countenance. He was -rated in a chair, wearing Ihe yellow Tartar hood or priest's cowl, and robes of yellow silk ami red w«»ol. with many under-robes of parti-coloured silks. He hold his rosary of bodhi-tree beads

(fruit of the pipul or ho tree) in his left hand. Although the Dalai Lama possesses incredible stores of gold and jewels, and rosaries of every precious material. In* carried only this simple rosary of the priest s on each occasion of mv seeing him. Hi- Sublimity is by

nature a man of superior courage and excellent qualities, while possessed of a profound knowledge of Buddhism. Tie i> also a man of great political talents and resource, as his doings attest. Up was not raised to the throne by the usual ballot method. While an infant he was brought to Lhassa with two other babes, all of whom were regarded as incarnations of the Da lai-Lama. Sub sequent ly the Regent Lama and minis ters of State of that time had reason to consider that two of the infants were devils incarnate, ami the present Pope the onh genuine incarnation of the Dalai-Lama. 'They obtained the recognition of the Chinese amban, or resident minister in 'Tibet. to this theory,

and succeeded in placing the boy on the throne without recourse to balloting on the three candidates. Since coming of age he has taken the government wholly into his own hands. Few DalaiLamas have lived to actually rule, the corrupt ministers poisoning each one before he came of age. and setting another infant incarnation in his place. The Dalai-Lania has lately concluded a secret treaty with Russia, and an exchange of presents was made with the Tsar. The emissary of the Tsar was a Buriat Mongol lama, whose people have always been free to come and go, visit and make pilgrimages about Lhassa. Working through the three tutors of the Dalai-Lania. he was received and treated with in 1900. Three hundred camel-loads of presents arrived from Russia in 1902. and L saw some of the new rilles which then came. Formerly the old fuse-gun was the only firearm in use in Tibet, and Tibetans high ami low were astounded at the quality of these muskets, and knew no bounds in their admiration of Russian mechanical skill. As a matter of fact, the rifles in question were of American manufacture, and their range was. at the most, only live hundred meters.” O o o o o A Big Break at Billiards. Mr 4. Belfield, amateur billiard champion of New South Wales, and Mr Eugene Boyle, one of the most expert amateurs, played an exhibition game of 500 up at the Glebe Working Men's Institute recently. Mr Belfield, as usual, went in chiefly for the losing hazard game, not troubling much about top of the table play. His principal contributions were 43. 43. 38. 72. 94, 30. and. as a concluding performance, 225. which brought his score up to 652. The 225 is Ihe highest break ever made by an amateur in Australia. Mr Boyle was unlucky in the way the balls broke, but he made some very fine shots, and a few good breaks, but he didn’t pick up the strength of the table as readily as his opponent. He compiled 130 altogether.

Country. The cables informed us the other day that he has been chosen to row in the Cambridge University eight, and he is the first New Zealander to gain a double “blue.” Mr. Gillies was educated at Wanganui College, where he was one of the leading boys in the schools, and in athletics, and he afterwards went to ( aius College. Cambridge, to study for his medical degree. In addition to living boat-captain of his college, and gain ing his seat in the ’varsity boat, he last year gained his golf “blue,” took a firstclass in the National Science Tripos, and gained two scholarships. As a golfer lie is well known in Auckland, ami before he left for Home was looked upon as one of the most promising young players in the club. Mr. Gilies lias shone in other branches of athletics, and while he was at Wanganui he was selected to play for Hie local team against the Australian eleven, and made top score. Slight in build, he is tough and wiry, and is about sft lOin in height. He is rowing two in the ’varsitv boat, at a weight of 10st 41b. o o o o o A Greek Executioner. There 'lied lately in Greece a State official whose duties have often drawn a good deal of public attention upon him

A Successful New Zealander. We give this week a photograph of Air. Harold 1). (Tillies, a young Aucklander, who has been winning renown in the Old

Bekiaris. Ihe common executioner. (Inly amongst criminals condemned to loath it is possible to find in Greece a man willing to take upon himself an office which is regarded with universal loathing: and the bribe which is offered to him is the commutation of the capital sentence to 20 years’ imprisonment, with the award of 100 drachmas for each execution. At the end of 20 years he obtains liberty, with (In opportunity of beginning a new life with his ill-gotten gains, away under other skies, out of reach of his victims’ avenging relatives.

Usually confined in the spacious prison of Corfu, where he is allowed a certain freedom, the executioner is taken under a strong escort, necessary to protect him from the people, whose sympathies are very often with the criminals, to Nau plia. whenever a batch of criminals are to be execute.!*. It is there, inside the formidable fort of Palamidi, that ar* kept in 24 cases, painted red. the parts which go to build up the guillotine.

Bekiaris was noted for his dexterity. It is said that it was only when called upon Io execute youths that his hand was known to shake or his eye to quad, tor far away in his na! i’ .* mountains he had left a wife* and children, to whom he would one day. he hoped, he united. It is related of him that once, in the year 1894. there awaited him at Nauplia a batch of 20 prisoners, among whom was an 18-y ear-old youth, who shook with dread as he witnessed his fellow prisoners’ decapitation, and who. when his own turn came and the executioner’s hahid was laid on him, uttered a piercing cry and fell senseless. Bekiaris lifted the hoy up in his arms with the utmost tenderness, and (‘ailed upon the guards to approach and testify that death had stepped in and relieved him of his duty Pity triumphed over greed in this case, for had Bekiaris passed oil as a simple swoon what he alone had detected as death, his task could have been proceed ed with and 100 drachmas gained.