Inhabitants
There are 1,600,000 inhabitants in Tibet now. Four percent are ethnic
minorities like the Menpa, Hui, Han, Denpa, Mongols, Naxi, Sherpa and
Lopa.
Because these people were geographical isolated, they kept their primitive
manner of life for a long time. They lived mainly through means of agriculture,
hunting and gathering food.
None of these populations except the Naxi, who developed their own writing,
have a written language. These people count by tying ropes in knots. It is
unknown how these people are. Because this people live in a generally hidden
area, their guests are treated with respect. Meanwhile, the Tibetans are a
minority in their own country. Mostly Chinese people live in Tibet.
Menpa
There are about 40,000 Menpa who live mainly in the areas Meito, Tsona and
Nyingchi. They eat amongst others barley pancakes and pepper soup.
They wear profound red clothes and a hat in the shape of a trident. Women also
wear white aprons and many ornaments. They don't wear the same clothes in all
area's, sometimes the women also wear striped skirts.
The Menpa are lamaïstic.
Lopa
There are 300,000 Lopa who live in the south of Tibet. They also eat barley
pancakes like the Manpa, but with meat and milk.
The men of the Lopas wear a waistcoat and always a saber and their bow and
arrow which are signs for their masculinity. The women wear a blouse with a
checked pattern to the knee. The men and women both fancy ornaments.
Women may carry seven to eight kilograms of ornaments. The Lopa study the
supernatural. They are known to perform exorcisms and celebrate fortune
telling. They with the help of the tissues of the liver of chickens if the time
is right for important happenings like funerals or weddings. In one year, one
family slaughters about 70 or 80 chickens.
Denpa
The Denpa are known because they drink and smoke so much, both men and women.
They eat mostly wheat and gierst.
The Denpas live in the southeast of Tibet were the climate is subtropical. The
men wear short trousers and garments without sleeves. The men may wear shawls.
The women wear blouses with short sleeves and skirts. They wear large earring
and also wear ornaments around their head.
Sherpa
The Sherpas eat wheat porridge and potatoes.
They wear white jackets. The women also wear trousers and over that a skirt.
The men wear short trousers and a white belt with their hunting-knife, which is
a sign of their masculinity. Like the Lopa, the Sherpa's are lamaïstic.