Inside Tibet 1943 - National Archives and Records AdministrationInside

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a die
million
hello
done
hole
commission is deeply embedded in the offices of the government of india
the dalai lama of tibet
officials of his cabinet and the chinese government
it was solely for their cooperation with this trip is made possible
the undertaking originated again talk sixteen
but a political officer who found the fifteenth of that as his residency and administrative
office
travel began c was slow and tedious over himalayan barrier
from there they only probable obstacle was the crossing the brunt of the river
after which they arrived at last i don't know how much of that one
the two american officers made three months in lhasa continued to jack window and then
onto land talent we can still problems of modern times
they covered in approximately thirteen hundred mile
measured in time in over one hundred days in the senate
just prior to our departure from she clearly displayed to give some of the president of
the united states to the dalai lama of tibet
the british mentioned a bit of godspeed which about a rule
british political officer
prime minister boottime
money directly on the daughter of the maharaja of teakamp
here to join in one of the gifts
o'connor graphic watch which to all the time of day
their week month of year-end moon phases
clinton jumped up and was landmark in his locale is the second highest mountain in the
himalayas
it's not glad people as twenty eight thousand feet
into the skies of ccom
nopalop pass
our program begins its house in its journey across the himalayas into the hidden country
beyond
and we cross the boundary into tibet
because of the difficulty of transportation we carry on with their bare essentials
as we expect to live in the country along the way
apac train loaded with potatoes for india passes this on the trail
potatoes are one of the minor exports of the country
tibet shouldn't be on the impregnable walls of the himalayas
in the land of mystery and mysticism
its rugged and primitive beauty can be enjoyed only by those who will endure strenuous travel
who almost inaccessible regions
traveling across the country espouses a beacon for batting desert ways
we see what is made every phase of the tibetans life a struggle
yet three million hardy courageous people call this land their home
in some sections they live almost entirely on a diet of meat
and only the privileged families can enjoy barley
uh... that food must be transported under great difficulties from the distant valleys
in the valley as we've become the luxury in the main dot is barley mixed with butter deanne
called samba
according to a geologist in centuries past most of tibet was glacier country
at the became habitable nomads from all directions flooded their way through the narrow passage
and built their homes in the few fertile valleys
the first overnight stop
is that jim bittermann
the british have established travelers quarters for thirteen days along the road into the
interior
these stations are spaced one day's travel apart
all transportation is on football by writing animal
betrayals of tibet artur barabar wheeled vehicles
even if they attempted to use them
would not allow behind as our caravan of thirty-five new eleven fifty native travelers moves on
the road a lot of like other road across tibet in central asia is a well warm trail
over these routes for centuries caravans of card the merchandise of the east
ke rice gold must still gave infers
adapter in the british guard of honor turned out to readers
their native indian troops under british command equipped with enfield rifles
we meet again addressed bridal party on its way to india fellow said debutante is to be
married to the son of the right job
marriages like other phases of tibetan social life
must receive the blessing approval of the buddhist church
after a slight rested dot soon
we are given us and all by the army guards
we pass a typical village situated on mineral plane at the foot of the ever-present empowering
mountains
the tallest one twenty four thousand cari is cultural mohanty meeting queen of the snows
for shipment of wall and mama times transported in typical tibetan style
passes is on its way to the markets of india
world of the cheap explored in principle source of revenue
the lowest rated to india for manufactured goods and regina neighbors on the east for
porcelain was his precious satins and broke aids
on the thirteenth day we reach d_n_c_
the last british trade in mail post on the road to lhasa
and i met by non agar fifty point margaret infantry
how american flag in the british flag are raised together in a gesture of friendship
our first official welcome was rendered by major going on in tibet notables
these gifts from the native of visual represent a considerable sacrifice on their part
and how far greater value than the occidental conception of such presence
no other offering could have been more welcome in the meeting
eggs barley and butter
we return their hospitality by inviting our tibetan plans to a reception held at the home
of major going
reacting british trade agent
authority wail of the ceremonial warned her of the opening of the annual ritual called
indycar e
the most important ceremony at u_n_c_ monastery
this like all other religious ceremonies as dramatic proof of the people
at the pace of the llama church of overpowered and subdued the evil spirits
this particular pageant makes a bid for prosperity during the coming year
by the time we witness the ceremonies at gnc
we began to feel that religion is the predominant influence
that control of the people of this vast land
the wizard priest wearing beautiful robes of chinese brocade hundreds of years old an
elaborate headdress is crowned with ornamental coiled serpents
engage the evil spirits
eventually overpowering them
thereby assuring the people of continued prosperity
our charming host the abit administrator of the monastery
the skeleton dancers representing evil spirit to assail helpless mankind
the dance of the lion spirits
and the doors
representing the friendly spirit of india
major blow and honor guard gives us a military send-off
our horses are small but sturdy
the only difficult is trying to look dignified writing them
the eastern magistrate of d_n_c_ also comes off as he is off
our yard caravan carrying barley
their very existence of the tibetans depends upon the act
it punishes food in the form of butter
milk and meat
besides transportation and fuel
for a long hair is woven into crawford tense
mattel part is made into a variety of other products
our travel on fairly even ground was short-lived
and we start our ascend into difficulty mountain of sections
writing up to caracas one of the last burial before lhasa
at this moment prayer flags within the wind
every passes adorned with flags like these
one of our escorts puts up of like a thanksgiving to the mountain dogs horses crossing
and we begin the descent into the valley
we cannot praise too highly the animals of this country
their parents realize their students
they're capable of carrying amazing loads
they're considered the most sure-footed in the world
and openly entrusted our lives to their instinctive sense of balance
brahma quicker
one of the three great rivers of tibet
we are not by officials to expedite our crossing all along the route the tibetans have been
invited to are coming
ever given as a welcome of honor
world caravans unpack trains operatic roles in long flat bottom the barges
crossing the river is as difficult as most other transportation problems
the animals and they were ordered and stubborn must be coaxed coerced into the cliche i've
been to the very end barge
in the rainy season the boatman cannot minority unwieldy barges
and ran predation depend upon record cold
a small tub like boat made of willows and covered with skin
however during this time of the year
only the privilege passengers ride in them
the globally budget over their heavy loads
arcade is leroy because with the help of eddy currents
tibetans are inherently sociable
analyst letters provocation flaws and their labors to visit over a cup of tea
native drivers congregate at the very crossing
fears the cheap drink of the country
made of barley salt and water
it gives them resistance to hunger and cold
they drink anywhere from thirty to fifty cups a day
a monk who became a prominent guide presents us with greetings cards from the dalai lama
and a letter from the foreign office
let's go out with the tibetans calling card
during our stay weeks changed hundreds of them
escorted by our guide we proceed toward lhasa
two miles from the city of lhasa
the american officers captain but dolan
and major ealier tolstoy
welcomed by british chinese an indian notables
and the official representatives of the church and state of tibet
later at the tibetan reception
we're presented with gifts from the dollar le monde his court
ceremonial scarves rice and pete
the dalai lamas in his own bodyguard decaf tea regimented readers
this is a rare occasion
the first time in history when an honor guard has turned out to greet americans
it creates great excitement
we review the infantry in their practical native attire
as we approach the city we enjoy our first glimpse of the magnificent seventeenth-century
winter palace
of the dalai lama and on a nearby hill the temple of the healing buddha
through the west gate with its george on peak dome prowess monks from remote llamas errors
mediators pilgrims merchants and traders
the population of the city is estimated at twenty thousand
plaza maintained contact with the outside world through the medium of a telegraph line
used principally in trading relations with india
little of the city has modernized
installation of electric lights in two hundred homes being probably the most conspicuous
evidence
only around the people use their rooftops to washington dc
work and play
the boom gang family
the wealth of tibet is concentrated in twenty of these official families
twice about why mama has been born into the circle
the father is a cabinet minister and his son's wife shown carrying her baby daughter
with an indian princes before marriage
frequently families engaged the services of priest to prey solely for them
this school is attended by children of mixed common man noble blood
is conducted by a monk who is also the telegraph operator
two brothers of the dalai lama our students
the one shown here richly blessed
bears a striking resemblance to the young project
do you need to be dressed men are not cause or tibetan sorcerer's
not recognized yet tolerated by the church
their strange grounds and those are supposed to drive away the devil
they want to all corners of the country invoking the spirit of an indian wizard
who came in the eighth century
and delivered to their batons from the devils
allegedly tormented them
have a word game of the children is shitty
the object is to keep that the other bird in the air as long as possible
no easy trick
small trying here charges murder was training
tibet is still unaffected by the machine age
hauling planting and harvesting or all done by primitive methods
labourers content with a lot
chant as they work
the combo dancers roam about the bed in troops living on the body of their audiences
megan performances in the small villages in the streets at the home of the wealthy
and anywhere they can find spectators to contribute
this particular troop is considered the most talented and alter that
and came to a loss of or the five weeks of the new year festival
immigrate religious community has a price the only entertainment of the theatrical nature
their steps of the closest relation to pole dancing that is known in tibet
although the capers and gyrations can hardly be called original
they didn't give us an insight into the characteristics of the tibetan people
two races would have the stamina to engage in this performance
especially in the rarefied arab twelve thousand feet
and yet the entertainers may put on several shows a day
the tibetans populate a country where only the rigorous may survive
these folks lab with early have a happy disposition
make friends quickly
and rivalry is always good natured
the grand finale their performances the paper all competition of the leading benchers
nature of their own style
and give it the wrong
before relying on it's inspiring gloria towers above the city lhasa
just to the buddhist religion dominates the life of the people
under two golden crust in rules of the tombs of the previous dalai lamas
enjoys standards up because
degrade road links report along with her home of the dalai lama
for the summer palace
his residence from may until october
the land of tibet guard brigade of the summer palace
the ground cover over five hundred acres of gardens an animal preserves
the architecture its buildings is considerably influenced by the orientals
but it singular splendor is truly tibetan
the ornaments bordering the rules are covered with a layer of pure gold
the workmanship reflects the patients and inspiration of the people
that contributed to the buildings to their dalai lamas
the present dollar amount is ten years old
and when i was you absolute control of his people until it reaches eighteen
in the intervening years the region directed studies in activities
and is the temporary work with that
there is no higher authority religious for civil
during the absence of the dalai lama in the winter months
a major domo is in charge of the summer palace
this dazzling j drinking cup with its gold color and stand is a personal couple the dalai
lama
our guard stands before it was an elephant
which was presented many years ago to a former gov liar llama
by a member of the chinese nobility
these are gifts that were presented to president roosevelt by his holiness the dalai lama
the exquisite religious pappas is known as problems are liable for their detailed underwear
this summer palace to the home of many types of animals
amongst the more pony
loops
we'll stop in colonie
and there
a wild ass
some of his favor upon is in the stable
wildblue sheep
camels which it would be a blow for the labor
and the tibetan mastiff blood relation to the same bernard
the grounds of the temple of the super bowl my god
while driving joyce complete safety in all of the bat
as it is contrary to the religious precepts to kill any animals or birds other than cheap
in the act
travelling according to custom with their servants preceding them
the cabinet ministers are coming to a party at the british mission where we enjoyed the
hospitality of mister lebow
servants help their masters this month
carmel guy who is usually late arrival
all martin is roasted for the occasion
the luncheon was given at the british mission
for the cash added or cabinet members and other layan ecclesiastical officials
during the luncheon we asked the three cabinet members to pose for their pictures
also high government directors of the foreign office
great officials
and luminaries from the monastery
with typical tibetan palm
our guest a fairly
shortly after the party of the british mission
we were invited to the goodwill palace of the strong family
the residents as one of the show places of masa
and evidences that dignity wealth and influence
with with the powerful families are blessed
we were presented with an up so if you build tibetan terrier which became our mascot
although tibet is isolated from what we consider the civilized world
we found a highly developed culture
people conduct themselves with dignity and restraint
if teachers are finally proportion
and the women are strikingly attractive
who also is surrounded by monasteries causing forty thousand monks
we are here being shown to the sera monastery which itself provides living quarters for
six thousand
we appreciated by paulo months with their padded shoulders
the dead wrong monastery where the ten thousand members of the largest monastery in the world
knowledge is from the age of five and resident monks
attend the examinations of the three candidates for the doctor of divinity
it takes fifteen to twenty years studying training before they are eligible to qualify
for the degree
those that they are and only a very influential
they take the examination again about ten years later
the calendar to examine for eight days by leonard members of the order
examiners left one hand into the other and shouts answer
the student answers wrong
is given a severe slap on the arm
the cabinet under examination wears a yellow helmet
if he passes he gets an extra roll stitching on the crest
the monks takeover the city for the fiery festival of mostar or new year
twenty thousand coming from the great monasteries
but to ensure a law-and-order among the fun loving tibetans
global mantra long poles give the unruly in line
please members of the poem gang family are wearing the finally for the new year festival
the tibetan sense of duty as manifested by the exquisite blending of costly silk brocade
in a labrador radio semi precious jewels
the seed protocol required jade golden onyx
or expertly fabricated into exotic an original designs
they had best encrusted with cdp roast must be worn by all women of the normal families
during the five weeks of the new year ceremony
if they should go out of on the street without this headrest
it would be sent home by among
families from the seven th grade of nobility on up
i wouldn't put on our after paying homage to the dalai lama temporal rulers
nobody lower than the seven th grade of nobility is allowed an audience
the opening ceremony of the new year
the re-enactment of a legendary battle
the tibetans are great lovers of tradition and legends
during the festival they find many opportunities to pay respect to their forefathers
the soldiers are wearing the armor of the sixteen seventeen th-century
exceptionally dry hair of tibet
has reserved the armor perfectly
even mention any links between the plates of male looked liked you
the privilege together on the part of our courtyard for the approaching pageant
for sham
humorously depicting the god of wealth
escorted to his datamonitor
in the initial part of the ceremony
the evil spirits to their dancing unmolested
and represent the threatening force is to be overcome by the church
and all the loaded air there come of the founder of tibetan drums
the spirits continue their menacing ritual
every year there's little scared as presented reenacting the dream of the late now while
i'm out
in which an old man overpowers a tiger
thereby proving the indomitable strength of humanity
outside the port of lava picture of the second day ceremony at the polls sitting act
the rug on the ground symbolizes suffering mankind
groups then surrounded
but the spirit is protected by the powers of the llamas
the wizard prius with their black hats and of the grandson overpower the evil spirits
here are the rug symbolizes the enemies of the church
an evil spirit
there's been coerced by the resume priests performs around this figure
in the center of the heart lungs liver and intestines of the enemy
which are hypothetically torn from the body and thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil
and wine
and dramatically destroyed
another symbol of kerala evil spirits his card out of the portal our yard
who also be burn
the region and his escort are all route to visit the oracle
every year he pays his respect to the prophet
and receive the predictions for the coming year
the region with his colorful entourage of civil and george mobility
returns to lhasa after receiving the augury from the oracle
but no one's affiliation and ryan can often be determined by their headrest
and there are three contest the servants of the sole purpose of them
their remarkable strength as well attested by the four hundred yards they can chew them
out
you know is picked up from where it strikes the ground and is marked with the name of
the contest and in his record
ma approvals are still kept busy maintaining order
merchants and politicians presents cards to the city officials and nobility
and then the officials and nobleman pay homage to representatives of the region
one of the last functions of the new year's celebration
is the concentration of all evil spirits in an image of the church in one symbolic figure
which in turn will be destroyed
from a vantage point overlooking the court of law grounds
the region
present ruler of tibet witnesses the pageant
last event of the new year's festival is the annual cavalry show
for this occasion the noble families most funny sixteen fifteen men and horses
depending on their official position
the writers must be appropriately armed cold unmounted
discovery does no military function
and they've got another evidence of the tibetans love or tradition
these costumes of the very same one that where used several hundred years ago by the man
who perfected their country
the apparent in performance of the participants at this contest
are judged
and much of the sponsoring nobleman stress d depends upon the results of the ceremony
the sponsors and government offices
the following day each writers still heavily clothing mounted on a small fleet pony
places down the field course
and upload galloping thus far at the first time here
then swing is matlock over his shoulder paul i was born in a row
and trying to register abroad dot on the second one
what mecca is to the mohammed ins
the portal obvious to the voters
some problems begin their homage on the great road although most confine their prostate
into the holy war
the holy water seven miles in length
and in circles the potluck
harvard pilgrim repeatedly prostrate themselves as they were in the courtroom circuit
each time this fall or stops to pray he turns at right angles to the wall
fall sprawled on the stomach
then rises
and some of the bottom up
properly done it takes two days to complete the ritual
numbers of wealthy families often pay this type of work ever to represent them
on the rock walls are artist conceptions of the celestial buddha's
some of the tunnel detours and greater significance to their trip
some people carry their own prayer wheels
inside there is endlessly repeated domestic formula
when money is pretty amazing
mutual
in the locals
each turn of the real represents the prayer many millions of tons
davis yours reporter thirteen lord in premium
from israel of life
frail rios recessed until world
probably the most liberal
but a lot of barring a symbol of
visibility monument erlich divested such from members of our
there's also a fitting resident for their allied bombers
who's always allegedly perpetuated reincarnation of buddha
the pros and i'll i'll i'll was born in hasn't come in eastern montana
i was brought to the loss of
with great ceremony as heir to the throne of the best
major presented to that would be ideal focal point for buddhism
isolating that compares to a section of our own
bestowed upon it overpowers under an inspiration
it could be conceivably united into one boneless lamb
someone has not been in power
is it alright mama
the absolute beauty allen almost unknown civilization and culture