TIBET

or THIBET, country included in China, Central Asia (32° 30’ N., 90° E.); stretches from frontiers of China to Pamir, with Him a lay as on the S. and Kuen-lun, Akka Tag, and Altyn Tag on the N. Surface generally consists of high mountains, plateaus, and great rolling plains traversed by long ridges of hills, and the great elevation of the whole country is its most remarkable physical characteristic; wide regions still not explored. The highest peaks ft. In the W. are desert lands; great river Tsang-po, length, 1,300 m., which traverses the country and forms headwaters of the Brahmaputra; other rivers are the head streams of the Ganges, Ho, Mekong, and Salwin; numerous lakes, many of them salt; hot springs frequently occur. Climate very severe; great want of moisture in air renders the fall of rain and snow very small; in summer intense heat by day is followed by great cold at night. Flora includes such characteristic plants as the delculus, gentian, saxifrage. Fauna includes antelopes, rodents, and numerous animals peculiar to Tibet. See Map Asta. In some places barley, wheat, various vegetables and fruits are cultivated, and sheep, yaks, pigs, camels, and buffaloes are reared. Minerals found include salt, gold, borax; various precious stones occur; important industries are weaving, knitting, pottery making; and metal working. Trade is chiefly with China and India, the principal exports being skins, wool, precious stones, livestock. History.—Tibet was included in the dominions of, Jenghiz Khan and Kublai Khan; the latter granted the chief power to the lama Phagspa in 1270. In 1645 sovereign power was granted by the Dalai Lamas, who have continued to rule the country until the present time. Chin. control over foreign affairs dates from 1720; and until 1903 Tibet remained practically unknown to Europe ans, who were forbidden on pain of death to enter the country. Expeditions, were from time to time and at great risk undertaken by various travelers, among whom Przevalski, Rock hill, Bower, and Sven Hedin may be mentioned; while a number of ‘pundits’ from India carried out geographical surveys, whereby a considerable amount of information concerning the country w. In 1903 Colonel Young husband was sent at the head of a mi ion to Lhasa to secure the observance by the Tibetans of the terms of the Anglo-Chin. treaty of 1890; he reached Lhasa in 1904 and an agreement was signed by which facilities for trade between Tibet and Brit. India were granted by the Tibetans. A dispute with China occurred in 1909, and Lhasa was taken by a Chin. force, upon which the Dalai Lama fled to India; deposed by the Chinese. The Tibetans forthwith rose against the Chinese, gained some succe es, and petitioned the Dalai Lama to return, ‘June 1912. Intervention by the Brit. government prevented more bloodshed, but matters are still unsettled. still nominally the head of the government, and exercises his authority through a regent appointed by China; but it is said that the government of China intends to exercise greater control over the affairs of Tibet than has hitherto been the case, although at present (1920) owing to the lack of a strong central authority, she has little influence over outiying provinces. The cap. is Lhasa, and the markets open to Brit. traders are at Yatung, Gyantze, and Gartok. The Tibetans are of Mongoloid stock and are of good physique; they are generally cla ified in two divisions—dwellers in towns and villages, and a number of nomadic and pastoral tribes; among the former, polyandry is customary, but the nomads are generally monogamous; in some parts of E. and E. Central Tibet polygamy is practiced. Chief religion is Lamaism, a corrupt form of Buddhism. Area, 463,200 sq. m.; pop. probably c. 2,000,000.