The International Monthly, Volume 5, No. 3, March, 1852Various
History
The International Monthly, Volume 5, No. 3, March, 1852
Various
Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals
Sir James Emerson Tennent, in his work on Ceylon, has given a curious
account of the compliance of the Jesuit missionaries with the customs
and external rites of the people they sought to convert, as opposed to
the rigid discipline and unbending orthodoxy of their Dutch successors,
who would not stoop, and who, perhaps, on that account, did not conquer.
Our Lazarists, though not practising, in all its latitude, the Jesuit
doctrine, were nevertheless determined that nothing in the outward man
should repel the sympathy of those whom they sought to persuade. On the
frontiers of Mongolia, the Chinese dress, which they had hitherto worn,
was laid aside; the long tress of hair, that had been cherished since
they left France, was pitilessly sacrificed, to the infinite despair of
their Chinese congregation; and they assumed the habit generally worn by
the Lamas, or priests of Thibet. In the opinion of the Tartars, Lamas
are alone privileged to speak on religious matters; and a layman, or
"black man"[13] (to use their own expression), who should presume to
converse on things spiritual, would excite laughter and contempt. It
was, therefore, good policy to adopt a dress which insured the respect
and attention of their hearers. The costume was one which would have
been rather startling to a priest who, without transition should have
exchanged for it the black _soutaine_ of the Romish church. It consisted
in a yellow robe, fastened on one side with five gilt buttons and
confined at the waist by a long red sash, a red jacket with a violet
collar, and a yellow cap with red tuft. Nor was this all. The same
conciliatory spirit which had dictated the change of costume, presided
over the whole conduct of the travellers; and we find them heroically
declining the hot wine offered by their Chinese host of the frontier
inn, saying, good humoredly, that good Lamas must abstain from wine and
tobacco.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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