Lassa

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

or Lhasa, las'sa, the chief city of Tibet. The name signifies "God's Ground." It is the metropolis and sacred city of the Buddhist world. It is situated on a small plain surrounded by barren mountains. There are four defiles by which caravans may reach the city. The houses of the poor people are of gray and sun dried brick; those of the wealthy are of stone or brick. One of the suburbs is of houses constructed chiefly of the horns of sheep and oxen set in clay mortar. It is difficult to gain a detailed knowledge of the city, as foreigners are regarded with jealousy, and are not allowed to approach the city except under rare circumstances. Mr. Landon in the March number of the World's Work for 1905 gives an interesting account of the city and of the temple of the Grand Lama. The article gives an account of a visit by Colonel Younghusband and a small party of Englishmen. The Grand Lama did not dare to attack the Englishmen or to receive them, but he felt that the mystery of religion had not been respected. Later he set off to the court of China with a caravan of 1,000 persons and 700 camels to make remonstrance. The Chinese government is none too progressive, but it regarded the protest of the Grand Lama as untimely. He was received much like a boy whose toe has been stubbed in a scrimmage on the playgrounds--with affection and great show of respect for his hurt--and was sent home with the title of "Spreader of Civilization." See Lamaism