Add Or 3029

Potala: the descent of the rope.

Inscribed: ‘This represents a dangerous exhibition of a man traversing which takes place at the Potala on the 2nd day of the Lnsur’ [lo-gsar, new year]’ fair. It is called Chungkul-takshur’ [byan-khal-thag-sur].

‘The people who exhibit come from Tsang, and there are nine families only who are instructed and receive a jaghier. They wear a number of leathers over their breast & stomach to prevent the rope cutting them, and they descend head foremost as in the picture, holding in the hand an arrow which they flourish about in their descent. This rope is about 500 yards or more in length and sometimes the clothes and leather are burnt, and smoke is seen: and occasionally the rope cuts through and kills the person. The provinces of Tsang’ [gTsan]’ and Ui’ [dBus]’ are said previously to have been enemies, and then Ui conquered Tsang: when there was a great fair at Ui an order was then given that the people of Tsang should traverse a rope thus with the head downwards: and this barbarous and dangerous custom has been continued ever since. Nine people are said to descend in one day: and within 30 years they say only one man has been killed. When the fete’ [feat?]’ has been performed a kooroos of silver, a horse and a box of tea is given to them by the Gyalwa Rinpochi. A quantity of cloth is tied round the stone pillar and people extend their arms to break the violence of the contact when the man arrives at the terminus.’

‘No.31 in large map’

Inscribed on picture in Tibetan: Top right: ‘Lha-sa-po-ta-la-g.yul-rgyal-lcog-gi-rtse-nas-rdo-rin-sgan-tu-lo-gsar-tshes-gnis-la-byan-khal-thag-sur-rgyug-pa.’ Bottom left: zol-rdo-rin-nan-ma. Bottom right: ‘go-mdzod-rdo-rje-glin.’

Note: For an account of this ceremony see Sir C. Bell, ‘The religion of Tibet,’ Oxford, 1931, p.127.