Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-07
A NOTED EXPLORER.
PREJEvALsxY FALLS A vIcTIM TO
TYPHUs-REvER
Close Of the Exciting Career Of the Russian
asographsr-His Daring
JournsyA

was one Of the most venturesome OF modem
explorers. He WAS born on April Il, 1889.
At the village OF Otradnoye, IN the SniOlenek
district. His mother and bis old purse were
the first who inspired him with a warn love
OF nature, and his life on the estate OF his
mother contributed 10 the development Of
this loye. He studied at the Smoiensk
College (gymnasiumh and notwithsiand-
ing the desire OF his mother. who
wished him 20 enter a university. he en-
tered NJ sub-oficer in the Polotzk infan-
try regiment. Promoted 20 the grade OF
officer, he went to the Military Academy, and
soon after served rs al officer during the
Polish campaign, aud afterwards as tescher
oi geography and history IN the Cadet School
at Warsaw. A keen hunter, he could not
stay long In q city, aud soon took journey
10 the Oussouri. This determined hts ulti-
mate career; the richness Of the fauna and
tho pleasure OF hunting in unciylliZed coun-
tries determined him 10 undertake further
Journeys, first 20 Southern Mongolia, then TO
Lob-nor and finally TO Thibet.
II was In 1877 that he started on the expe-
dition 10 Lob-nor, which was destined 10 be
remarkably successful. On this Journey Colo
mel PreieyalsSy started from kuldia, trav-
cling with only two or three companions In
generally southeast direction, striking the
river Tarm where IL bends 70 the south and
i0urneying along that river 10 its discharge
in Lob-nor. On this expedition he explored
the great Cslmuek trsde-route over the Al
tyn Tagh mountain range, which has an alti-
tude OF 1900 feet, and in which he killed
several wild camels, animals whose exist
euce bad long been called in ques-
ton. Then, besides successful journeys
through the Amur country and Mongous, he
crowned his previous difficult exploits with
Journey across the Desert OF Cob, In Cen
trail Asia. and an exploration Of Lake Lob
that mysterious inland basin which Il stu
ated in what il probably the most insccessi-
bic region Of the lnhabitsble globe, and which
no European traveller had seen since the days
Of Marco Polo. He coasted Lake Lob In a
boat on this occasion. The lake il in the do
| minions Of the late YakoOb Beg, who. under
the pretence OF giving the Colonel protection,
placed him under a strict and somewhat In
convenient surveillance.
On the 1st of February, 1870, Colonel
Preievalsky started on his third exhibition.
/ He was accompanied by Ensign Eklou, who
had been bis associate on his two previous
Journeys TO Mongolia and Lob-nor, Ensign
Roboroysky as draughtsman, and two sharp
shooters. At KuldjN he was joined BY the
same INTERPRETER that be had on his last Jour
ney, and at Zaissan by five Cossacks. From
the Iast-named place the exhibition started
with thirty camels and some horses for
/ Ham, aud Suh.cbau, and thence proceeded
10 the mountains OF kansu. The party was
then to make for Lhassa, the sacred city OF
the Grand Lama, to reach which
they would have 10 cross m unex-
plored section OF the Great GObi Desert
and pass over the plains OF Tssidsm
and across the desolate highlands OF North
ern Thbet. BY February OF the next year
Colore Prelevsl'ky hoped TO reach the
Himalaya by way OF the Brahmsputra river
By that time, however, although he had
been some four months IN Tibet. he had
not succeeded in entering HASA, the mys-
terious capital Of tue DlIai-Lama. His guide
maiclously lured him into the solitude OF
the Rleu river. Diminishing him Preievalsky
continued bis travels and researches at bis
own risk, aud with good results. He and
his party assembled the ran.ls plateau, where
the mountains are cspped with eternal
SHOWS. At the foot OF these mountains they
were STACKED on the 9TH OF November, 1872
by nomad tribe OF robbers aud assassins,
who were quickly routed oY the bullets Of
! the explorers party. These rufiianS Teas-
sembed I'm greater force tue next day, but
were completely beaten.
Advancing upon Lhassa they were checked
1 at the distance OF $50 yersts, or 100 miles,
from the residence Of the Grand Lama by
the natives, who opposed their nearer APP
proach without Government authorization.
/ While Awaiting the return OF the messenger
sent 10 Lhassa an armed Thibet detachment
/ dew near and closely observed PreievalSky's
party, berating them as sorcerers, and threat
ening 10 attack them At any cost; yet these
/ poltroons, who had beard Of the victory over
/ the mountain brigands, fed at the first symp-
/ tom Of action on Preievalsky's part. After
( three weeks delay came the answer from
! the Grand Lama, delivered with great cere'
mOny by an escorted ambassador, praying
7 that PreIeyalsky would vacate his territory,
rs the Grand Lama was most reluctant 20 be-
! hold or entertain Russians. The ambassa-
doris were excessively polite but very posi-
| tive, and though Preieyalsky exhausted his
| persuasive powers, he could not prevail
| against them. lie afterwards learned that
| the whole OF Lhsssa had been in uncOntrolla-
! bic panic at the prospect OF his entrance, ass
sured that he meant nothing less than the
theft OF the Grand Lama and the destruction
| OF Buddhism.
Preleyslsky's reluctant retreat occupied
| two months, and vas most painful Journey.
| lie lost all but thirteen Of his thirty>fouT
/ camels. and the party were obliged to pro-
/ coed on foot, having loaded the horses with
the burdens " the dead camels. They sub
/ sisted chiefly upon the fruit Of the chase,
snd AZ last the beautiful air Of Tsaidsn re-
rewed their health and spirits. He then eX-
plored the jaime river as far as the jealousy
Of the Chinese officials would permit, and by
/ the end OF December. 1880, reached Omsk.
/ Meanwhile be made n journey TO the upper
portion OF the lIOsng-hO, snd the enYirons
/ of The KukunOr, ascertsining his true course
Of The river and the character OF The lofty
snow-capped mountains which guard Thibet
ia the east.
Early in 1884 Colonel Preieyalsky started
on another attempt TO make thorough eX
plorstion OF Tibet. With q strong escort
OF Cossacks and attendants he safely passed
the desert OF GObi IN spite Of the curses OF
the Tbibetsns. who prayed Heaven to Iain
down storms u stones upon tue intrepid oX'
plOrer aud bis companions. Ia May be
reached Southern Saidam, and proceeded b
the source Of the great Yellow river, and
from there 20 the source OF toe Bleu river.
His attempt % cross this stream was defeated
by tue determined hostility q the Tungules,
who followed snd harrassed the party for
several weeks. Then the explorer directed
ms Steps ID " tabtIu oAiIdlh hhA " N7Aet ~
Thibet, aud again returned 70 Russia, siter
an sbsence o. two years, without having
reached Ihasea. lie received a grand Oga-
ton or reaching 81. Petersburg. snd was re-
varied by the Car With promotion ~ the
rank 81 maioc-geBelsl.
AT Tie time Of bis death, Prelevalsky was
about starting on another expedition 10
Tbibet. lie had a large following OF Cos
sacks, and proposed to enter Ibibet by way
u the L0b.nor. IL was believed that be
would have on this occasion the best chance
ever afforded him Of entering the forbidden
residence Of the Dalal-Lama, for, with the
British hostile forces on one side and Rus
sian faitering advances on the other, the
Thibelans would likely enough decide to
favor The lktieT, In the hope Of neutralizag
the attacks Of the former, a. AignaDisIau
aud other seDi.lndopeDdAnt Asiatie states
bad often done before. Tne preparations for
the expedition. therefore, created considera-
ole uneaslness in British official circles.
AN "ALMOHADA" AT MADRID.
The curious ana Aneient Ceremony