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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



Photograph by Dr. A. L. Shelton 



one of the: large: mani piles near batang containing countless stones on 

 each oe which is carved a magical prayer eormula 



the remains of a grub which has been 

 attacked by a fungus. The grub is killed 

 by the fungus, the root of the latter, 

 which is in the grub, absorbing its body. 

 Only the outer husk is left in the sem- 

 blance of the original grub. This seem- 

 ing combination of animal and vegetable 

 life is not only used as a medicine, but is 

 also eaten as a delicacy. 



METAL WORK AMONG THE TIBETANS 



Some mining is carried on by the 

 Tibetans of the eastern border region, 

 but the industry is of small proportions. 



The products mined include lead, gold, 

 and iron. Iron is used for swords, some 

 of the most elaborately ornamented com- 

 manding a high price. 



The Tibetans love to embellish their 

 scabbards with silver, coral, and turquoise, 

 and some of them are fine examples of 

 workmanship. Iron is also used in the 

 manufacture of crude guns, or was until 

 within the last few years, when it be- 

 came possible to obtain firearms of West- 

 ern manufacture. 



In Chiamdo, principal town of Kham, 

 Tibetan workers in iron make of that 



