Tachienlu, Aug. 4. MIBER, the Land of the Lamas, is slowly but surely, like other, countries, becoming a land of strife and political" intrigue The Lama, fortunately or unfortunately, is unable to confine his energies entirely to the reading of sacred books and the mumbling of mysterious prayers, His lonely cell may circumscribe his body but it will not hold his mind. Drebung, near Lhasa, one of the big three, is also known as "7,700"—that being the official number of resident Jamas and drabas; but on occasions that number will swell to close on 10,000, this increase taking place at certain seasons of the lama year, Selence has done much to disclose many hidden facts in nature and.one apparently still yet to be revealed the reaction on a lama's glands to the consumption of large quantities Hob, rancid, hard smelling yak butter. Wil the persistent consumption of these large quantities of nauseating, yak butter keep a lama quiet or tend io make him rowdy? Will the daily, drinking of enormous quantities. of ich yak butter tea facilitate. relllous meditation or produce a hard-thinking-politician? And what are those 7,700 lamas and drabas doing when they are not reading and praying and drinking and eating" and sleeping?
The rise and growth of polities is subject now disturbing the inhabi tants on the "Roof of the. Worl Lamaism may have been dominant at tone time in the Land of the Lamas and the prayer wheel an important Jactor in bringing men to Nirvana, Is the lama kingdom now leaving religion or using religion as a mere political cloak?
"There is much evidence to show that things are really changing on the "Roof of the World" and. the patient Nirvana-seeking Jama is not averse to political discussions or an interest in worldly affairs. And this is very unlike the lama pictured in one's Imagination, Lamaism in. the Land of the Lamas is now at the cross-ronds and will have to. make some decision very soon either for or against religion.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.