Mr, J. Huston Edgar on Geographic Control and Human Reactions: A Natural Fortress and the Home of the Fugitive said: "In China we have a perfect field for expressing' the patriarch idea. The vast plans made the "federation of families, clans and states a reasonable dream, and united universe a possible conscm._ motion. But, in Thibet, a horizon 'The Geographic Control and Hu- limited extent, impassable mountain barriers, and' unproductive were in favour of clan isolation and misanthropic dispositions. due time we find their highest conceptions of what waz most necessary for this world and the next credited to one who was to be their Ruler and their God. _And-to obviate all possibility of mistakes his agent were to be a priesthood drawn from all the families of the Tibetan earth." The celibacy of the lamas was spoken of, also, as a result of geographic control. "The lama in the interests of an urgent demand have given the Thibetan a rampant and sinister spirit world," the speal er said, "His models' are either! drawn direct from, or modified by, the Thibetan tand.
The ideas d migration of wuls have their origin in geographic influence."
Mr, Edgar presented an interest-1g discussion of the Thibetan belief in Nirvana. "Lamaism did not ut it," he said, "but adopted readily and nurtured it carefull pitiless climate, a rapacious government and a malevolent spirit world would hardly induce the Thibetan to view eternal existence a blessing. A Suggestion that!
jernity might end sometime would be eagerly entertained. And this
plies."
what the Nirvana salvation in Little Personal Ornamentation Equally interesting was the Portion of Mr. Edgar's lecture devoted to the customs of the country. In thefe also the Thibetan was point ed as being a child of necessity. nomadic regime, Mr.
"The Thibetan layman is lavishly ornamental, but has little varlet of clothing for his body, or no gre amount of ornamentation on his tent or dwelling. But the lamasery ig ablaze with gilding, paintings and decorations of all kinds while their bodies remain unadorned. It is fonough to state that the Lama is not a nomad. The ordinary dress Jof the Thibetan ig made of skins Jand the pattern is Yo simple that the jgarmen' may be wrapped around him or discarded partially or completely as suddenly as the changes jof climate demand. Travellers in-Jsinaate that he is first cousin to the wolverine! "Others associate with him' a permanent suggestion of smoked hams and as. avfoetida. Certainly no sane person would assert that cleanlines§ is with him next to godliness. But he is not free by the law of circumstances. Enormous mops of uncombell hair fare not only a culture ground for vermin but an excellent Hrotection fagaingt inclement weather.
Mr, Edgar described the Thibetan as now being a first class trader with the lamaseries as the dominating. centre of trade. Among other customs described by the speaker were Thibetan ideas of marriage, The best type was explained as being ex-agamous and parti-loc In characterizing the future of the and, Mr. Edgar said that nature thas already declared that Thibet Imust specialize in stock. China has retorted: "Your stock and your pro-duets of the same we do not greatly] want." The result has been, according to Mr. Edgar, "that the land hi been put to an unnatural use [the true possibilities and means of wealth ang development ignored."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.