742 LHASA AND CENTRAL TIBET. 



there in front of a board upon which the Emperor's name is inscribed, 

 in the presence of the highest authorities of Tibet and a deputation 

 from the principal monasteries, the Manchu Amban, b}^ means of two 

 chopsticks, draws out one of the tickets. He whose name is written 

 upon the ticket is pkiced upon the Dakxi Lama throne. The election is 

 confirmed by imperial decree, and the fortunate or unfortunate young- 

 ster is brought into the place with great honors. From this time on 

 he is accorded appropriate honors and worshipers tlock to him. In his 

 3^outh he is taught reading and writing under the guidance of a special 

 teacher — ioiu-tszini — selected from among the most learned famous 

 Lamas. Then he is given a purely religious education, following the 

 aboye-mentioned fiye sections with all their seven commentaries. For 

 practical disputes one learned Lama is detailed from each of the theo- 

 logical faculties of the three principal monasteries. These instruc- 

 tors are called Tszang-skab-khanpo. Our Buriat countryman, Agvan 

 Dorchzheyev, was one of these with the present Dalai Lama. 



After finishing the course of instruction he receives the highest 

 degree in theology in the same manner as the other Lamas, but, of 

 course, with a more liberal distribution of money to the monasteries 

 and more careful (Questions on the part of the learned Lamas who dis- 

 pute with him and who are appointed in advance. After this, when 

 21 to 22 years old, the Dalai Lama enters the ripe and independent 

 existence. Since 1806 five Dalai Lamas have reigned. The present 

 incumbent, the thirteenth, Tubdan-Gyamtso, was born in 1876, so that 

 now he is 27 3^ears old. About six or seven years ago he had a 

 struggle with his regent, most famous of Tibetan hutuktu, "Demo," 

 and came out victor, which no doubt saved him from the fate of his 

 four predecessors, who perished at various ages, frequently the result 

 of violence inflicted by regents or representatives of other pai'ties that 

 were striving to remain longer close to the "power." The present 

 Dalai Lama accused Demo of organizing plots against his life, confis- 

 cated his immense wealth, and placed him under tu rigid home arrest 

 in a separate room, where Demo was discovered suflocated one beauti- 

 ful morning in the autumn of 1900. The Dalai Lama assumed the 

 head rule of Tibet, and one of his conspicuous acts is the abolition of 

 capital punishment, which was practiced extensivel}' by the regents. 

 It seems in general that he is very energetic, and inclined to be a good 

 man, with considerable love for knowledge. 



The second person of the lamaist hierarchy is the Panchen-Erdeni, 

 who lives in a monastery in the provice of Tashilhunpo Tsang. The 

 first Panchen-Erdeni was the Lama Lobzang Choigyi-Gyaltsan, who 

 was born in 1570. This earnest Lama was the instructor of the 

 fourth and fifth Dalai Lamas, when he pla3^ed an important role in 

 political afl'airs, which served to enhance the power of the Dalai Lama. 

 The official title, Panchen-Erdeni, and the imperial diploma and seal was 



