LIFE AMOXG THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN TIBET 



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Photograph by Dr. A. L. Shelton 



A STREET SCENIC IN BATANG 



Batang, or Paanhsien, derives most of its importance from the Tibetan trade route, which 

 passes through it on its way from Yachow to Chiamdo, connecting the Yangtze Valley with 

 the highlands of Tibet (see map, page 296). 



This sacred combination of sounds — a 

 sort of religious abracadabra — is a thing 

 on which the Tibetans and other votaries 

 of lamaism rely for comfort in this life 

 and for assurance of happiness after 

 death, or to prevent their being reborn in 

 a lower scale of life. It is said thousands 

 of times a day by the faithful, as they go 

 about their work. Often it is counted off 

 on strings of beads. 



The Tibetan Buddhists believe also 

 that there is merit in ''repeating" this 

 magical formula mechanically. Accord- 

 ingly it is written on yards and yards of 



paper which are placed in prayer-wheels. 

 In most cases these wheels are twirled by 

 the hands of the worshipers, but so con- 

 fident are they of the efficacy of mechan- 

 ical prayer that they construct what might 

 be termed power prayer-wheels operated 

 by water. 



The very winds are harnessed to pray 

 for the Tibetans, for the mystic phrase is 

 written upon thousands of flags, which 

 are strung upon poles and ropes. Wind- 

 mills connected to prayer-wheels carry the 

 mechanical prayer still farther. 



The sacred words are even carved on 



