INTO UNKNOWN TIBET.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1921, Page 9

INTO UNKNOWN TIBET.

MOUNT EVEREST PIONEERS.

VISIT TO A MONASTERY

The following despatch, has come to hand from Colonel Bury, tno leader of the advance party of the Mount Everest exped i Hon:’•Trekking up the picturesque va’ley of the Bhong-Chii River, flanked with hills, from which the most wonderful views can bo. obtained for-100 miles, we reached Tingr-id-Zong, a small trading mart, situated on an isolated hill in the middle of a great plain, sloping up towards Mount Everest and the wonderful chain of snowy mountains from 25,000 ft to 27,000 ft high, forming the boundary.

“Tingrid-Zong will constitute our base for stores and supplies while we are reconnoitring the appallingly steep northern and north-western approaches to Mount Everest. Along the Bhong Valley donkeys are our sole means of transport, owing to rinderpest. They are most diminutive, but arc capable of carrying heavy loads. “We reached Kishong, a pretty village, surrounded by willows and seabuckthorn. In n nearby valley, though it is 15,000 ft above sea level, we found a mass of wild rosea and juniper. The roses are cream colored, and most sweetly scented. Patches of soft, green grass and bubbling springs form a delightful contrast to the rest of the rather arid region. “Shekaid-Zong is a most remarkable place, with a huge monastery, clinging to the hillside. The monastery contains 400 monks. The ecclesiastical Jongpen welcomed us with Tibetan tea, made with butter and salt, and offered us

macaroni mince. “We visited the monastery, which-con

sists of innumerable terraced buildings on the steepest slope. Ascending winding streets to the main courtyard we met the official head of the monastery, appointed from Lhassa. The main temple smelt most strongly of the rancid butter which is burnt in the lamps. “The temple contains several lifesized Buddhas, studded with precious stones and turquoises. Behind them stands a colossal figure of Buddha, 50ft high, and round the temple are eight figures each 10ft high, curiously dressed in a costume with flounces. These are the guardians of the shrine. “We went up steep, slippery ladders in darkness, and came out on a platform opposite the gilded face of Buddha, where there were profuse offerings of

grain and butter, and exquisitely carved silver and curious chain armour. "We called on the old abbot of the

monastery, who is supposed to be a reincarnation of a former abbot. He is a most charming old man of 66 years, and is worshipped by the monks of the monastery, who induced him to be photographed. "All wanted a picture, since his time on earth would be so short. For the photograph he was dressed up in beautiful gold brocades and priceless silk hangings. The monks had never seen photographs, but had heard about them, and were very excited. “Moorehead and his surveyors are very busy observing from the hills of BhongChu. All this was new and uAsurveyed .country, of which they have not f mapped .out 25.000 square HiSiafc’ 5