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Show EXPERIENCES OF A LONE GEOGRAPHER Photograph by Frederick R. Wulsin DEVIL DANCERS IN COSTUME AT CHONI From Minchow I went to Chord, a sort of independent territory ruled by a prince, a Tibetan chief (see illustration, p. 342). Here I learned that the best way to reach the Amne Machin Range was via Radja Gomba, on the Yellow (Hwang) River. LIVING BUDDHA OF LABRANG IS IN EXILE I asked the prince if he could help me to get to Radja Gomba, and he said the best way would be to see the Great Living Buddha of Labrang Monastery and ask his aid. The prince wrote to him personally and also gave me a letter of introduction. This Living Buddha, considered the third great incarnation, next to the Pantshen Lama of Tashi Lunpo, lives in exile. The Mohammedan General Machi of Sining had taken Labrang some time previously, and recently had demanded 270,000 ounces of gold from this rich and most influential monastery ; thereupon the Living Buddha left as a protest and is now wandering about from one monastery to another. At the present time he is in the Choni prince's territory, and I visited him at Ankurgomba, a small lamasery in the mountains near Taochow. He was exceedingly friendly and gave me a letter bearing his seal and addressed to the lamas of Radja Gomba monastery, demanding that they receive me well and escort me to the Amne Machin Range, making the tour around it. |
