Eureka Reporter | 1904-04-08 | Page 7 | Tibetan New Year's Day

TIBETAN NEW YEAR S DA es that mark it celebration february 18 is new years day in tibet and for the succeeding three weeks lassa is the scene of strange its government pas sea from the lama to a monk of the be bang monastery who buys the right BI rule by auction he is called the laino and receiving the homage of all his authority by imposing heavy fines for his own profit his men visit every home in lasa to col elect lect heavy taxes and fines so that all the poorer people leave the city at the new year from the country round priests flock in tor numerous religious ceremonies which culminate in the selection of a human scapegoat for the sins of lassa the face of the victim Is painted halt black add half white and after he has been beaten by the populace as a symbol of the transference to him of the ins of the people he is hooted and mobbed out of lassa whither he may not return for a year