NOTES ON THE ETHNOLOGY OF TIBET. 681 



mild form of domestic slavery or serfdom, in some of tlie outlying dis- 

 tricts where there is a large non-Tibetan population, as in the Ts'arong 

 province in southeastern Tibet, regular slavery prevails, persons becom- 

 ing slaves through birth, debt, or crime, and their offspring being 

 also slaves. (Land of the Lamas, pp. 285, 286.) 



The second part of Tibet comprises that which is under Chinese rule 

 and influence. It consists of tlie 18 districts of eastern Tibet, whose 

 organization I have described elsewhere (Land of the Lamas, p.,218 

 et seg.), the Jyade or "Chinese Province," and the Kokonor Tibetan 

 districts. In the Jyade there are 36 chiefs or Debas, chosen from among 

 the most influential headmen of the country ; they receive their appoint- 

 ment from the imperial Chinese minister resident at Lh'asa. and are in 

 receipt of a yearly stipend from the Emperor of China of 100 ounces of 

 silver. Under them are numerous chiefs of clans whose charges are 

 hereditary. (Geographical Journal, in, p. 377.) The organization of 

 the Tibetan tribes living around the Kokonor is similar to that of Jyade, 

 but the chiefs receive their commissions from the imperial resident at 

 Hsi-ning (Kau-su). (Land of the Lamas, p. 73 et seq., and Diary of a 

 journey in Mongolia and Tibet, p. 122 et seq. and p. 288.) 



The advantages to China of this organization are manifold, and have 

 been demonstrated during many centuries of its history. With a min- 

 imum ex])eiiditure of foi'ces and money, China attaches the frontier 

 tribes to it through small allowances made to the most powerful chiefs, 

 by granting the people certain advantages in trade (exemption from 

 duties at all Chinese towns along the border), and by giving them lib- 

 erty as to the administration of the internal aftairs of their country. 

 Whenever necessary a Chinese military ex])edition can vindicate the 

 supreme authority of the Emperor by a small display of force, whether 

 it be in Lh'asa or in the unruly districts of northeast Tibet. 



T. T. Cooper (The Mishmee Hills, p. 131), speaking of the application 

 of this system to the wild Indian hill tribes, says : 



It is a curious fact that, while we have ouly for a few years adopted this system 

 of quieting some of tlie Indian hill tribes, the Chinese Government commenced several 

 centuries ago by a similar system the subjugation of the numerous triljes on her 

 western frontiers, which to-day form one of the iinest and most effectual frontier 

 guards formed by any country in the world. Along a hill frontier of over 600 milea 

 the tribes of western China form a complete barrier against ingress from the west. 

 The chief of every clan or tribe has a nominal rank conferred upon him, to which is 

 attached a trifling annual stipend. He is furnished with an ofdcial dress, which he 

 wears in the presence of all Chinese officials. He is allowed to visit the court of 

 Pekin every five years at his own expense, if he chooses, as a mark of homage to the 

 Emperor. Such visits, however, are properly discouraged by the Chinese officials, 

 though the nominal privilege of being allowed to go to Pekin is grateful to the pride 

 of the barbarians, and makes them feel that, although subjects paying tribute, they 

 are still persons of conse(iueuce and allies of a powerful empire. 



Although incorrect as to some details, 1 think Cooper has accurately 

 weighed the value of this system to China. 



The political organization of the third section of Tibet, which com- 

 prises Bhutan, Sikkim, and Ladak, is properly beyond the scope of this 



