POWERS OF THE EMPEROR OF CHINA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIIL, Issue 270, 21 November 1878, Page 5

POWERS OF THE EMPEROR OF CHINA.

The powers arrogated to themselves by Eastern potentates over their fellowmen are so far-reaching that it is often difficult to imagine a limit to tbem. As a rule, they atop short with death, but it has. been reserved for the Emperor of China to claim dominiou ote? bis subjects on both aides of tbe gVavO. 1 A short lime ago the Pehin Gazette contaiued a decree on the subject of a Tibetan Hui'ukhi'u, or "Living Buddha," who had deserted hii- ecclesiastical post and carried oft b^i-ee&l, of office. -For thia oflance his title und Beal were cancelled, and it was further decree that his soul shoul i not be allowed to transmigrate at his dj-joe'aa?.. The annihilating nature of this bentence so overwhelmed the unfrocked "saint," that be went to Pekin to protest against its being carried into effect. Death, however, brought hia eaahly interest in the suit to °o close before his appeal waa heard, and the contest was tbus left to be fought out by the remainiog 159 " Livin« Buddhse." The loss of the Hut'ukhtV ship and the tampering with futurity ooriveyed by the Bentence so disturbed theae^ holy men that they petitioned the Cpinese Resident at Lasaa to move hiß Imperial master to reeiind the raralydog sentence on the aoul of the olfandiog Hui'ukhi'u. This the Resident did, and the result was the publication of the following somewhat inoonsietent Imperial decree:— "We dtaire that, as is besought of ue, search may be made to discover the child in whose body the aoul of the deceased Hui'ukbi'u has been re-born, aud that wh ri fouud he be allowed to resume governor h'-p.of bis proper Lamassery." It-it difficult to undtratand how, if the original sentence had taken effect, the qo.ul could bave been found anywhere but in a state of suspense ; but possibly tt-ia was too small a point to deserve $£' consideration 0 f the Emperor of China.