744 LHASA AND CENTRAL TIBET. 



of the higher administration, and they send their own representatives 

 into the districts. 



Of late the central government has apparently begun to strive to 

 accumulate land, for which purpose it takes away strips of land from 

 the monasteries under various pretenses or makes purchases on 

 installment from the annual income. 



The affairs of Tibet in general are ruled by the hereditary aristoc- 

 racy, whether it be the son who inherits his father's rights or the 

 incarnate who inherits the rights of his predecessor. As the born 

 aristocracy lives in strict isolation, not mingling with the common 

 people, the central government, despite its deliberative character, may 

 be called an aristocratic oligarchy. 



We stated that the Dalai Lama is the head of the central govern- 

 ment. The question arises, Who takes his place in the interim 

 between his death and the election of a new incarnate and until the 

 latter becomes eligible? This question arose for the first time in 

 1757, after the death of the seventh Dalai Lama, and was solved by 

 the appointment of a regent by the Chinese Emperor under the official 

 name "the director of the Dalai Lama's treasury,"''' with the title 

 '' nonuui-khan.'"' In writing, the Tibetans refer to him as '' the Khan's 

 viceroy" and in their daily conversation simply "the Til)etan khan." 

 The tirst man appointed to the regency was the very eminent hutuktu 

 "Demo," after whom other hutuktu were appointed. 



The tribunal and, in general, all administrative affairs are based on 

 bribery, court examinations, on torture 1)}^ means of lashes and 

 similar methods, cauterization by means of l^urning sealing wax being 

 regarded as the most severe. The punishments are execution by 

 drowning, imprisonment, banishment with giving away into slavery, 

 blinding, amputation of the tingers, lifelong fetters and foot stock, 

 and lashes. 



The permanent army, maintained ])y the treasury, consists of 4,000 

 men. Its armament consists of spears, matchlock guns, and bows. 

 For the protection of the body tlu\y have a helmet ornamented 

 with feathers, a small plaited shield, and some wear armor. They 

 are ofhcered b}^ "daipons," appointed from the higher aristocracy. 

 The soldiers usually live in their homes in the villages and only peri- 

 odicall}^ gather at posts, where they are inspected and taught to tire 

 blank charges, and the use of the bows. The army is divided into 

 cavalry and infantry. Despite the tendency of the Tibetans in the 

 eastern provinces to indulge in pillage and highway robbery, the 

 central Tibetan dislikes to make war; he is much more peace loving 

 and more inclined toward peaceful labors, on account of which he 

 regards military duty as superfluous and interfering with domestic 

 pursuits. One frequently sees soldiers on the way from an inspection 

 spin wool, .stitch shoes, turn a prayer wheel, or repeat their chaplet. 



