224 Notes on Eastern Thibet. [No. 3. 



are called " Eaga Tongden ;" they are a low race held in dislike and 

 shunned, but they are generally rich. They go about to the living, 

 begging and extorting money. "When refused or ill-treated, they 

 retaliate with abuse which is often successful. " Very good," say they, 

 " you won't give us alms now, you will come into our hauds some 

 day, and we will put a rope round your neck, drag your body 

 through the streets, and throw it to the dogs," and the latter part 

 is the frequent fate of the poor man's body, as these men keep nu- 

 merous dogs to devour the bodies. 



The bodies of the wealthy are carefully disposed of ; they are 

 carried in a litter to the top of a hill, set apart for the purpose, the 

 flesh cut in pieces, the skull and bones pounded in a mortar, and 

 when all is ready a smoke is raised to attract the vultures, who col- 

 lect in thousands to eat it up. 



The Chinese have spacious burial grounds at Lassa, and Digarchi, 

 and there, as in their own country and wherever they reside, they 

 are well cared for and ornamented. The Lassa one is said to con- 

 tain 100,000 tombs. In the time of Wangh, a celebrated Eaja of 

 Lassa, there was an insurrection against the Chinese which ended 

 for the time in the annihilation of the whole army, and the massacre, 

 by the Thibetans, of the whole Chinese population. The funerals of 

 the Chinese at that time were estimated at 4,000. This massacre was 

 punished by the Emperor with signal vengeance, and since that 

 time the Chinese supremacy has been finally established all over 

 Thibet. There was a petty insurrection in 1843, in which many 

 Chinese were killed. 



Religious Festivals. 



There are twelve great annual Festivals, viz. Bumteung, Kansu- 

 pecha, Chuchupecha, Gesiipecha, Nesiipecha, Gosungpecha, Gyajee- 

 pecha, Lalhipecha, Chindupecha, Dudiipecha, Kagyurpecha, Lukpho- 

 pecha. Pecha is equivalent to Puja. 



On the anuiversary of the death of a Chief Lama of a Goompa, 

 there is a great festival and illumination. At Tashi Lumbu, three 

 such are held annually. 



The " Lassa Morun" festival of M. Hue is properly called the 

 " Lha-sa Meuhlum." It is the anniversary of the first proclamation 

 the Religion of Boodha by Sakya, at Lassa. 



