Chapter I: Front Matter

This ebook was transcribed by Les Bowler.

TRAVELS
IN
TARTARY, THIBET, AND CHINA,

ILLUSTRATED.

[Picture: Buddha]

LONDON:
OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL ILLUSTRATED LIBRARY,
227 STRAND.

[Picture: Mausoleum of a Grand Lama of Thibet]

TRAVELS
IN
TARTARY, THIBET, AND CHINA,
DURING THE YEARS 1844-5-6.

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BY M. HUC.

TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH BY W. HAZLITT.

* * * * *

VOL. II.

* * * * *

ILLUSTRATED WITH FIFTY ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD.

* * * * *

* * * * *

LONDON:
OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL ILLUSTRATED LIBRARY
227 STRAND.

* * * * *

LONDON:
VIZETELLY AND COMPANY, PRINTERS AND ENGRAVERS,
PETERBOROUGH COURT, FLEET STREET.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.

PAGE CONTENTS. v LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. ix CHAPTER I. Caravan of Khalkha Tartars--Son of the King of 13 Koukou-Noor--Sandara the Bearded--Two thousand Oxen are stolen from the Houng-Mao-Eul, or Long Hairs--Fearful Tumult at Tang-Keou-Eul--Description and character of the Long Hairs--Feasts of the First Day of the Year--Departure for the Lamasery of Kounboum--Arrival at Night--Old Akaye--The Kitat-Lama--The Stammerer--Pilgrims at Kounboum--Description of the Feast of Flowers CHAPTER II. Marvellous birth of Tsong-Kaba--His preparation for the 46 Apostleship--He departs for the West--His interview with the Grand Lama of Thibet--He reforms the Lamanesque worship--Numerous analogies between the Catholic religion and reformed Buddhism--Origin of these analogies--Tree of the Ten Thousand Images--Lamanesque Teaching--Faculty of Prayer--Government of the Lamasery of Kounboum--Offerings of the Pilgrims--Industry of the Lamas--The Adventures of Sandara the Bearded--Favourable disposition of the Lamas towards Christianity--Singular practice for the relief of Travellers--Nocturnal Prayers--Departure for the Lamasery of Tchogortan CHAPTER III. Aspect of the Lamasery of Tchogortan--Contemplative 72 Lamas--Lama Herdsmen--The "Book of the Forty-two Points of Instruction, delivered by Buddha"--Extract from the Chinese Annals, with relation to the preaching of Buddhism in China--The Black Tents--Manners of the Si-Fan--Long-haired Oxen--Adventures of a stuffed Karba--Lamanesque Chronicle of the Origin of Nations--Alimentary Diet--Valuable discoveries in the Animal Kingdom--Manufacture of Camel-hair Cord--Frequent visits to Tchogortan--Classification of Argols--Brigand Anecdote--Elevation of the Pyramid of Peace--The Faculty of Medicine at Tchogortan--Thibetian Physicians--Departure for the Blue Sea CHAPTER IV. Aspect of the Koukou-Noor--Tribes of Kolos--Chronicle of 98 the Origin of the Blue Sea--Description and March of the Great Caravan--Passage of the Pouhain-Gol--Adventures of the Altere-Lama--Character of our pro-cameleer--Mongols of Tsaidam--Pestilential Vapours of the Bourhan-Bota--Ascent of the Chuga and Bayen-Kharat Mountains--Wild Cattle--Wild Mules--Men and Animals Killed with the Cold--Encounter with Brigands--Plateau of Tant-La--Hot Springs--Conflagration in the Desert--Village of Na-Ptchu--Sale of Camels, and Hiring of Long-tailed Oxen--Young Chaberon of the Kingdom of Khartchin--Cultivated Plains of Pompou--Mountain of the Remission of Sins--Arrival at Lha-Ssa CHAPTER V. Lodgings in a Thibetian House--Appearance of 137 Lha-Ssa--Palace of the Tale-Lama--Picture of the Thibetians--Monstrous Toilet of the Women--Industrial and Agricultural productions of Thibet--Gold and Silver Mines--Foreigners resident at Lha-Ssa--The Pebouns--The Katchis--The Chinese--Position of the relations between China and Thibet--Various speculations of the Public respecting us--We present ourselves to the Authorities--Form of the Thibetian Government--Grand Lama of Djachi-Loumbo--Society of the Kalons--Thibetian Prophecy--Tragical Death of three Tale-Lamas--Account of Ki-Chan--Condemnation of the Nomekhan--Revolt of the Lamasery of Sera CHAPTER VI. Visit of Five Spies--Appearance before the Regent--Ki-Chan 166 makes us undergo an Examination--Supper at the expense of the Government--A night of imprisonment with the Regent--Confidential communications of the Governor of the Katchi--Domiciliary Visit--Seals affixed to all our effects--Sinico-Thibetian Tribunal--Inquiry about the Geographical Maps--Homage paid to Christianity, and to the French name--The Regent assigns to us one of his Houses--Erection of a Chapel--Preaching of the Gospel--Conversion of a Chinese Doctor--Religious Conferences with the Regent--Recreation with a Magnifying Glass--Conversations with Ki-Chan--Religious character of the Thibetians--Celebrated formula of the Buddhists--Buddhist Pantheism--Election of the Tale-Lama--The Small-pox at Lha-Ssa--Sepultures in use among the Thibetians CHAPTER VII. Notice of Moorcroft the English Traveller--Routes between 201 Lha-Ssa and Europe--Discussion with the Chinese Ambassador--Contest between the Regent and Ki-Chan about us--Our expulsion from Lha-Ssa determined on--Protest against this arbitrary measure--Report of Ki-Chan to the Emperor of China--System of Chronology in use in Thibet--New Thibetian year--Festivals and rejoicings--Buddhist Monasteries of the Province of Oui--Khaldan--Preboung--Sera--Farewell of the Regent--Separation from Samdadchiemba--Ly, the Pacificator of Kingdoms--Triple Address of the Chinese Ambassador--Picturesque adieu between the Ly-Kouo-Ngun and his Wife--Departure from Lha-Ssa for Canton--Crossing a river in a leathern boat CHAPTER VIII. Chinese account of Thibet--Mountain of Loumma-Ri--Arrival 232 at Ghiamda--Visit of two Military Mandarins--Accident on a wooden bridge--The Unicorn--Passage of a Glacier--Appearance of Lha-Ri--Ascent of Chor-Kon-La--Frightful Road to Alan-To--Village of Lang Ki-Tsoung--Famous Mountain of Tanda--Catastrophe of Kia-Yu-Kiao--Passage of the celebrated Plateau of Wa-Ho--Arrival at Tsiamdo