TIBET 



161 



TIBET. 



THE Tibetans occupy an extensive table-laud in the heart of Asia, ranging from 12,000 to 

 17,000 feet above the level of the sea. The country is bounded on the north by the Kuen 

 Lun range of mountains, and on the south and south-west by the Himalayas, and is the loftiest 

 table-laud on the face of the globe. Its area exceeds 700,000 square miles, of which a great 

 part is uninhabited by human beings, while a considerable portion is too mountainous and 

 sterile to be cultivated, and is traversed only by wandering tribes of nomads. The centres 

 of the settled and agricultural population lie to the south in a region named Bod-yul 

 by the inhabitants, and known as Bhot by the 

 Hindus, their immediate neighbours south of the 

 Himalayas. 



The whole population of Tibet is estimated 

 at about 8,000,000, half of whom belong to 

 tribes governed by their own chiefs, and prac- 

 tically independent of or owning but a nominal 

 allegiance to the central authority. The people 

 who are under the rule of the supreme govern- 

 ment of Lassa occupy the southern provinces, 

 the valley of the Sanpo, or Upper Brahmaputra 

 River, in which the capital is situated. This 

 is the most fertile and thickly peopled portion of 

 the country, the true Bod-yul that is, land of the 

 Tibetan race. 



Several origins have been assigned to the 

 name Tibet, but we need note only that which 

 is given in ancient Chinese records. It is there 

 said that the king of the country is called diba, 

 and is descended from an ancient race of the 

 Langut Tartars. In A.D 433 the historical founder 

 of a state in the east of Tibet gave to his 

 dominions his own name of Tubat. This was a 

 famous family name borne by several Tartar 

 dynasties, and belonged to the Sien-pi race, in 

 whose language Tubat means "a coverlet." 



There can be no doubt that the Tibetans 

 are a Mongol race, even though marked differences 

 of physical type in certain localities plainly show 

 that other branches of the human tree have 

 been grafted on the Mongol stock. The people 

 generally may be characterised as slender of limb, 

 above the average height, and strong; their eyes 

 are black and slightly oblique; they have large 

 mouths, brown hair, no beards, clear ruddy- 

 brownish complexions, and an intelligent ex- 

 pression. They have good natural gifts, are mild in temper, kindly, and regard their pledged 

 word. They are fond of music, dancing, and singing, but are entirely lacking in enterprise, 

 and are thoroughly imbued with superstition. Being a very social people, nearly all the 

 notable events in life are made occasions for friendly meetings, feasting, and enjoyment. The 

 Tibetans are far less industrious and skilful than the Chinese, to whom they have been 

 tributary and nominally subject for about 180 years. Those of their industries that can be 

 described as national, because most generally practised, are few. They have some skill in 



Photo by Sir Walter C. Hillier, K.C.M.d 

 A KOREAN COOLIE. 



