Tachienlu is enjoying quite a' hectic time. (June 15); what with the arrival of] fai Chi-tao, the Chinese Government's representative at the burial rites of the Panchen fa, and the Tachienlu race meet, the town ivguite en fete. As this high minister of Sure hias come to the frontier bringing the Government's condolences to the people of tibet on the death of the Panchen the Tibetans somehow felt it: was their privilege and opportunity to welcome and entertain Tai Chi-"Kmbassadors, governors, special commissioners_and high Chinese officials have in fays gone by graced this border city with heir presence, and the welcome has usually, it not entirely, been from the Chinese lation, 'The Tibetans have gone out to ness big men's arrivals and nothing more. But on this occasion the 'Tibetans gave the oficial welcome. And what a welcome, what folour, What a turnout and what Asiatic grandeur, We have seen Ambans,' viceroys fud commissioners enter and leave Tachienitx but the welcome and"reception extended to this official was something out of the ordinary. course the Chinese took an important part in the programme and all the public Echool students went some distance down the China road to welcome the distinguished visitor, Including scholars, soldiers, officials fand public bodies the procession welcoming, the Government's representative must have been two miles long. Some of the border officials went down as far as Luting, while other members of the Border Administration journeyed to Wasi to welcome Tai Chi-tao.
School children and scholars simply love these welcomes, It is a public holiday and there is usually something else thrown in, It the big man delays his coming the scholars feel hungry s0 someotie makes a: suggestion: "What about something to eat?" Of course at the reception committee's expense. A big man can't arrive every day, and soa bag of scones is fhuried. down, to the hungry groups. One {fellow who rushed past us let the lid slip from the basket and the scholar following foch ind had difficulty in holding him up. An adjustment' was made and the scones passed fon, Somewhere round 3 pam. the firing of several guns announced the approach of the Government's representative, and soon the advance guard could be seen coming over the hil, Near the grassy encampment where the Nibetan reception was to take place, a number of well-dressed, well-set-up Tibetan soldiers were lined up as a guard of honour, These soldiers had formed part of the Panchen's Jott and had come down from Kanze to welcome 'Tai Chi-tao, Walking about the streets of Tachienlu the 'Tibetan soldiers wear the ola white helmet usually worn by British soldiers: on Indian service. Some of them, however, look as if the wearer had carefully' placed them on a seat and omitted to remove them before sitting down, or the wind had accidentally blown them in front of a jsieam-roller. - And many of them look as if another coat of whiting might do them good, But when Tai Chi-tao arrived they had produced an entirely new outfit and looked very spick and span. Immediately behind the soldiers came a contingent of Mohammedans larrying a banner which indicated that the Ifoharamedans of the Chinese Republic extended a-welcome ta Sikang to the Govern-
Photography now takes an important place any public welcome on the Tibetan frontier. Preceding, Tai Chi-tao and his following Jame a number of photographers quite pre-pated to photograph anything and everything. When the Chinese photographers approached lie Tibetan soldiers a request was made to iphers were part of this outfit. Local olographers were also on the. scene.
On approaching the green sward, the Gov-lent's representative showed considerable prise, He: was heralded by 50 huge lama impots and Dana Dreding, one of the "anchen's high civil officials.' Dismounting was led within a curtained courtyard'
re numerous ornamented tents had been. ed. The main reception tent was dutifully laid out with lovely heavy Tibetan 4gs and the table was loaded with things to drink and smoke, Numerous other tents ithin the ornamented curtain were laid out
rage.
the other members of the minister's en-
But the piece de resistance in the Tibetan tome given to Tai Chi-tao was the a1 cement made whereby he should ent city sitting in the Panchen's sedan chair led by two magnificent mules. The Poings-on the two mules, it.is said, were red with gold wash and from a distance looked magnificent. The sedan chair
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.