Tibet - The Mysterious

Tibet - The Mysterious

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Author: Thomas Holdich
Publisher: LP Publications
Year: 1994
Language: English
Pages: 356
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8186142169

Description

This book is the result of painstaking efforts to detail the sequence of the different explorers who attempted it. It throws light on myths, customs like the selection of the infant representing the reincarnation of the deceased Dalai Lama, practice of exorcism and the pattern of administration.

Even today, considering the dearth of available information of Tibet, the contents in its reprint would certainly interest geographers, historians, ethnographers and students of political science.

Tibet, a plateau guarded by seemingly insurmountable ranges on all sides, presents its desolate and inhospitable face to all explores trying to probe its mysteries. This book is the result of painstaking efforts to detail the sequence of the different explorers who attempted it.

This work throws light on myths, customs like the selection of the infant representing the reincarnation of the deceased Dalai Lama, practice of exorcism and the pattern of administration. It describes in detail the various explorations made by Russian, Chinese, Indian and European teams and the systematic surveying from the eighteenth century onwards which made possible detailed mapping of its mountains, passes, river ways and routes.

The geography of Tibet cannot be separated from its history. Buddhism, which disappeared from Indian centuries back, is well rooted there, resting Muslim and Christian missionary efforts. It is not surprising that Chinese and Mongol interferences have been the only successful ones, if one considers that access from the east is comparatively the easiest. While they have succeeded in exploiting Tibet, they have also provoked the growth of Lamaism that has been the most dominating influence on the people of Tibet.

Contents

CHAPTER I
Early Tales about Tibet
Conformation of Tibetan Plateau and its Mountain Barriers
Routes into Tibet
North Western Routes
Leh, Shipki and Niti Passes
Sikkim Passes
Eastern Routes
Ta-chien-lu
Routes from the North

CHAPTER II
Geological Evolution
The Chang Tang and Northern Tibet
Valley of the Indus and Brahmaputra
The Janglam Trade Route
Eastern Tibet
The Rivers of China and Burma
The Southern Zone
Climate

CHAPTER III
Short Outline of Tibetan History
Introduction of Buddhism
Struggles with China and Mongol Interference
Growth of Lamaism
Chinese Administration

CHAPTER IV
The First Recorded Mogul Invasion of Tibet
Mirza Haidar's Story, His Geography
Identification of his Route towards Lhasa

CHAPTER V
Eighteenth Century Explorations
Gruber
Capuchin Monks
Their Mission at Lhasa and their Struggles
Jesuit Interference
Desideri
Beligatti
Last of Mission
Van de Putte
His Residence at Lhasa

CHAPTER VI
Bogle's Mission and Policy of Warren Hastings
Bogle's Route to Shigatze
Description of the country and of Gyangtse
Reception by the Teshu Lama
Turner despatched by Warren Hastings
His Interview with the Infant Teshu Lama

CHAPTER VII
The Conquest of Tibet by China
Remarkable Military Expedition
Its Route into Tibet and the Final Defeat of the Gurkhas near Katmandu
Thomas Manning's Visit to Tibet and Lhasa, His Route through Bhutan
Experiences with Chinese Officials and Interview with the Dalai Lama
His Impressions
Moorcroft's Expedition to Hundes
His Probable Residence at Lhasa and his Fate

CHAPTER VIII
The Jesuit Missionaries, Huc and Gabet
Journey from Manchuria to Koko Nor
Notes on Early Christianity in Coria
The Mongolian and Chinese Borderland Frontier Farms
Mongolian Customs
Trade with China
Lamaism in Western Kansu
The Koko nor and Feast of Flowers at Kunbum

CHAPTER IX
Huc and Gabet (continued) from the Koko nor to Lhasa
Rockhill and Prejevalski and Northeastern Tibet
Rockhill's Second Journey towards Lhasa and in the Eastern Valleys of Tibet

CHAPTER X
Huc and Gabet on the Post Road to China and in Eastern Tibet
Approaches to the East from the Koko Nor and its Geographical Connection with Assam
De Rhins and Grenard
Needham and Krishna
The Brahmaputra Valley and the Passes through Bhutan
Kinthup's Explorations and Reports
The Methods of Native Explorers
Chandra Das
Nain Sing's Early Journeys

CHAPTER XI
Nain Sing's Surveys in Southern Tibet
Krishna
Ugyen
The Explorer G.M.N.
The Gold Field of Thok Jalung
The Source of the Indus and Brahmaputra

CHAPTER XII
Western and Northern Tibet
European Explorers
Deasy Stein
The Kuen Lun and Chang Tang
Wellby Bower
Littledale
Bonvalot
Seven Hedin
Comparison of Routes from West and North

CHAPTER XIII
Recent Expedition to Tibet
The Reconnaissance of the Upper Brahmaputra by Ryder, and the Exploration of a part of Western Tibet by Rawling

CHAPTER XIV
The Approaches to Lhasa
The Dalai Lama and High State Officials
Feasts and Customs
Temples and Palaces
Folk Lore
A Tibetan Story

CHAPTER XV
General Summary
Significance and Value of Approach to Lhasa from the Northeast
Russia's Position relatively to Tibet and India
The Value of Eastern and South-eastern Tibet
The Promise of Gold
Necessity of Opening up the Valley of the Brahmaputra

Appendix : Bibliography of Tibet
Index