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0296 Tibet and Turkestan : vol.1
Tibet and Turkestan : vol.1 / Page 296 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000231
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the foundations of new states, and vigorously work
out their savage young strength to a maturity which
still declares the sacred name, and still lives the
racial, violent law, whatever it may be; never, in
the strong, young races, more than parroting the
words of abnegation which the Teachers spoke.
Parallel to the violences which made Europe as it
is, we see, almost immediately after the advent of
Buddhism, arithmetic and letters, an expansion of
the national Tibetan spirit. Here as elsewhere it
began translating itself when possible into conquest.
The outward movement is less marked here than
in other lands under like conditions of excitement,
because the physical restrictions are more unyield-
ing. Yet something was done. First Lhasa was
established, then the far west—the Ladak country
—was subdued; then some of the still independent
Kiang tribes were assimilated; then followed de-
scents upon Turkestan to the north and overrun-
ning of Nepal to the south. Temerity went even
so far as to beat in the back door of China. But
this brought retribution upon the over-active
youngster—an army marched to Lhasa and burnt
his palace about the year 700 A.D.
In a sudden volte-face from external (unsuccessful)
activity, a pious monarch dreamed the dream of
equality for all but himself. Riches were equalised
—fields all remeasured, animals all recounted, that
Smith and Jones might stand before heaven and
the king in equality of worldly privilege. Ere he
died, the third effort at maintaining dull or lazy
Smith in possession of his wealth against intelligent
or laborious Jones had failed. That it should have