Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 100 (Color Image)

0100	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

70 PEKING TO LHASA

trumpets, nine or ten feet long, are blown, and he

either takes part in the dance, circling in front of

the devil, or retires to a seat under a gaudily

embroidered white tent. The monks dance round

the circle in a fantastic way, constantly whirling

round and kicking up their legs, and holding in

one hand a small bowl filled with grain and oil,

which they scatter on the ground. On some

occasions the monks come out wearing huge

masks representing faces with a broad grin or

animals or birds and perform for several hours.

The object of the dance is to drive out the devil

and ensure peace for the coming year. On the

third day the dummy devil is seized and driven

out.

The Chinese Commissioner, General Ch'en

Hsia Ling, Pereira found to be a stern man but

fond of sport, and he presented his English visitor

with the horns of a blue sheep he had just shot.

He rules by severity and the officials are all

terrified of him.

Ta-chien-lu had for centuries been the capital

of the kings of Chala. Latterly they had been

under Chinese supervision. Up to the time of

the Republic the present king had ruled jointly

with his brother. But his people rose when the

Republic was started. The king escaped by

flight but his brother was executed by the Chinese.

Later on, however, the king was allowed to return

and exercise a nominal rule over his people till,

just before Pereira's arrival, it was discovered

that he was in league with brigands, and he was

arrested and put in prison.

Many different tribesmen are found in Ta-

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