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Show TIBETAN NEW YEAR'S DAY.W Characteristic Ceremcntca That Mark Its Celebration. February 18 Is Now Ycnr'n dny In Tibet, ami for tho succeeding threo tvooks Lnssa Is tho sceno of strango proceedings. Its government pa9soa from tho lama to n monk of tho Do-bang Do-bang monastery, who buys tho right di rulo by auction. Ho Is called tbo talno and, receiving tho homngo of all, exercises his authority by Imposing heavy flnos for his own profit. His men visit every homo In Lassa to collect col-lect heavy taxes and fines, so that all tho poorer peoplo lcavo tho city at tho Now Year. From tho country round priests flock In for numerous religious ceremonies, which culminate In tho selection of a human Bcapegoat for tho sins of Lassa. The faco of tho victim Is painted half black and half whlto and after ho has boon beaten by tho populaco as a symbol of tho transference to .him of tho sins of tho people ho is hooted and mobbed out of Lassa, whither ho may not return for a year. |