74fi LHASA AND CENTRAL TIBET. 



the more eagerl}" thev are purchased and the higher is the price 

 paid. But Tibet also has a trade in cloths, in knit goods, and in 

 the 3^ellow hats of the ecclesiastics, and this class of traffic, which 

 depends upon the relig-ious sentiment of the purchasers, as is the case 

 with presents to Tibetan lamas, attains a considerable sum annuall}'. 

 The commerce in ordinary merchandise, however, scarcely exceeds 

 $60,000. 



Since objects of cult are exported to Mongolia and since only the 

 treasuries of incarnates and monasteries possess capital, the commercial 

 caravans are fitted out exclusively by the treasuries of the Dalai Lama 

 or other rich incarnates and by monaster}^ conuiiunities. The respon- 

 .sible officers of the caravans are called ''tsonpons." The ''tsonpons" 

 sent out by the Dalai Lama must double the original capital in three 

 ^^ears' time, which capital is estimated at a very inflated appraisal of 

 the goods. Each succeeding "tsonpou'"' is the auditor of his prede- 

 cessor — that is, he sees that the contract is fulhlled. 



Here and there the merchants in Mongolia, besides their commercial 

 operations, make collections of contril)utions for one or another enter- 

 prise of a monaster}" or an incarnate. If we add to this those immense 

 sums that are being collected by famous and infamous lamas, whether 

 they be invited to Mongolia or are there of their own accord, we can 

 safel}" say that Mongolia to a considerable degree enriches Tibet. 



Up to a ver}^ recent period there were no relations between Tibet 

 and Russia, although Buriats, who are Russian subjects, have for a 

 long time made secret pilgrimages to Tibet, fearing oppression from 

 the Russian administration, and entered Tibet under the assumed name 

 of "Khalkhas"" Mongols, fearing exclusion as foreigners. About 

 fifteen years ago *' Khalkhas " and Buriats belonging to one community 

 in Brebung quarreled for some reason, and the former called the latter 

 " Oros,'' or Russians. The matter reached the highest authorities, and, 

 thanks to the able management of the affair by the Buriat lamas, it 

 was established that, although the Buriats are Russian subjects, they 

 are followers of the yellow-hat religion. The Khalkhas who raised 

 the matter, having lost the trial, was obliged to leave the monastery, 

 and the others received warning that they would be fined 5 lans (about 

 $4) every time they call the Buriats "Oros." Russia can hardl}^ hope 

 to obtain a profitable market for her goods in Tibet, but it will pay 

 her to establish relations with Tibet because it is the center of lamaism, 

 to which are chained the thoughts of cojitemporary Mongols, of whom 

 there are about half a million, under the names of Buriats and Kalmuks, 

 who are Russian subjects. 



