Show r V V V V-AT AT T Lii LHASA SA J J By Alexandra David Neel Vi Copyright 1926 V by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate All AU rights of ot reproduction translation and j adaptation reserved for all countries including Holland and Scandinavia J 1 Mme David Neel is a French scholar and she prepared for her great groat adventure into the forbidden city by living two years in a cave in the Himalayas lyas where she studied the Tibetan language and religion under the tutelage of a hermit She absorbed much of the mysticism and occultism of ancient Eastern philosophy while retaIning retaining retaining retain retaIn- ing her French clarity and sanity of thought Mme Neel Ned tells her hep story simply but it flicks the imagination nevertheless especially the lonely nights in the mountains with a companion of alien race to whom a shadow wIn was a portent of the anger of the gods and who drew a magic sign on a rock to dispel a mirage of a tillage that lay across their path I was at Lhasa No doubt I might have been proud of my victory vic vic- tory ory but the struggle with cunning cunning cun- cun ning ing and ruse as weapons was not yet et over I 1 was at Lhasa and now the tie matt matter r was to tei stay at Lhasa Although I had endeavored to reach each the Tibetan capital rather b because cause I had been challenged than out ut of a real desire to visit it now that dat at the cost of ot so mue muc much hardship hardship hard- hard ship hip and danger I stood on the forbidden ground I meant to enjoy enjoy enoy en- en joy oy myself in all possible ways wars 1 I would fould really have felt ashamed of m myself self had had hadI I now been caught locked up somewhere and taKen back ack to the border having had only a superficial and brief look at the outside of ot the palaces aces and temples This should not happen No I would climb to the top of ot the Poala Potala Po- Po tala ala itself I would visit the most famous amous shrines the large historical cal al monasteries in the vicinity of Lhasa hasa and I would witness the religious religious re- re ceremonies the races the pageants of ot the New Year festi- festi val al All sights all things which were vere Lhasa's own beauty a and peculiarity pe- pe have to entertain the he lone woman explorer who had had lad the nerve to come to them from rom the far the first of her sex and race It was my won well-won rewards rewards re- re wards after the trials of the tha road and those of ot several years of un unsuccessful unsuccessful unsuccessful un- un successful attempts I intended hat at nobody should keep me from II It t. t V II It t. t V A VISIT TO THE POTALA I decided that I would first visit the Po Potala tala As the future rULUre was uncertain uncertain uncertain un un- un- un certain and my Incognito precarious ous prudence advised me to hurry my sightseeing tour As I was on my way with I thought that hat it would be safer for fOI me either cither to o Join some pilgrims or in some other wa way manage to enter the palace palace palace pal pal- ace with a group of ot people The unquestionable authenticity of ot true Tibetan companions would prevent doubts of ot mine Unfortunately we ye did not meet or oi- other borderland borderland borderland bor bor- derland people and I J was already resigned to proceed with alone when hen I noticed two men wearing the plain white coarse serge dress of or villagers strolling at ata ata ata a little distance from the first gate Let us take these two with us I r said to Yong en How could we ask them such a athing athing athing thing he replied Maybe they do not wish to go to the Potala Let us try I continued They look just the dear good j stupid fellows which we need In a few words I instructed about the part he was to play Just at that time a u group of workmen came along carrying huge trunks of trees People threw themselves hurriedly asido to be out of their way and took that opportunity to give a p push sh In Inthe Inthe inthe the back of ot one of the peasants AbU he exclaimed politely I Idid Idid Idid did not see you No harm hann lama answered the theman man Where are you from Inquired my companion with the patronizing tone of ot a full fledged denizen o othe ot of the capital speaking to country They told th the name of their vii vii- I lago lage and Informed us that they ha had come to Lhasa to sell barley had hac finished their bu business and thought though to only enjoy a little In IQ the big city before leaving on th the morrow morlOW You are going to meet this meet this 1 Is isa a a. respectful way of speaking of ot a visit to a holy holy place the place the Potala Pota Pota- la said as If it he knew I U it certainly V The men confessed they did no not Intend to do so they had met It on n several oth other r occasions VV men den talking with the author author- y Ity of ot one of the monks of the Ule Po tala told them about the r religious merits that such a visit and end that New Years Year's was the proper prop prop- er or time to perform meritorious deeds rather than loitering tottering in she street and drinking spirits In tb the public houses they ought to pay reverence to the Potala shrines Assuming an air of ot profound compassion compassion com corn passion and kindness he added that as they had been brought in his way he was willing to lead ci iem em all around the shrines and |