Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-01-17
The Forbidden City ofThibct.

The well-llnown explorer of Thibet,
lIr. W. W. Rockhill, has returned
home to this country. The news will
surprise many geographers, whose
latest information, received in Decem-
ber was that in April last Mr.. Rockhill
was in northeastern Thibet, t,,,pushing his
way toward Lhasa, the goal OF his am
bition. He hoped to be able to travel
with q party OF Nongols as far as Ten
@rinor, Il lofty lake among the noun
tains north OF Lhasa. The Mongols
refused to 90 with him to Lhasa, as the
Thibetans are still determined to keep
all foreigners out OF the holy city. He
heard that the iEterdict now extends
even to foreign goods, which are rigid
" excluded from Thibet. He seems,
therefore, again to have met the de-
feat that for many years have over
taken all explorers bound for Lhasa.
Mr.. Rockhill's first journey, with
Lhasa as its goal, was undertaken in
1883 when be hoped by pushing rapid
ly along the main road from China to
the capital to attain the city. He had
only fairly entered the country when
his troubles with the Thibetan Lamas
began. At one place the people were
forbidden TO buy anything from him.
to sell him anything, or to serve as his
guides. Along the road he camped
away from all villages and Lamaseries,
trusting himself only with the black
tent people, who were extremely kind.
At another place the Lamas wished 10
turn him and his party out Of
the town before he had fairly entered it.
If he had been dressed in European cos
tune he would undoubtedly have been
turned back much earlier on his journey,
but he wore Thibetan dress, spoke moth
ing but Chinese and Thibetan, and dur
ing the entire journey never used any
European articles OF dress or food. He
lived as the people did, on tsamba and
tea. He was compelled at last to turn
back, and made his way down the
Yangtse river to the coast.
Since Fathers Hue and CADET visited
Lhasa in 1916 no white man has set
foot in this famous centre Of Buddhism.
The city was the goal of Prejevalsky's
ambition, but he was turned back on
three of his expeditions while still far
from the forbidden gates. On one oc-
casion the authorities of Lhasa threat
ened him with violence again the fail
ure of his supplies compelled him to re-
treat; and on the third expedition he
was attacked by the Thibetans, who re-
sented his intrusion upon their soil.
Mr.. Carey, the English explorer, also
tried in vain to reach Lhasa. The
French explorer Bonvolot in 1890
reachedLake Tengri-nor, onlyabout two
days journey on horseback from the capital.
Here he was met by the authorities OF Lhasa,
who would not permit him to approach near
er, though they were glad to sell him horses
and yaks to expedite his departure One
Russian expedition since Prejevalsky's last
Journey has also tried III vain to reach the
mysterious city
We should be entirely ignorant of what has
been going on in the sacred city for many
wears if the Indian Government had not from
time to time sent native Indians to travel III
Tibet. Some of them have made long So
iourns in Lhasa, where they lived i'll the
guisc OF mcndicants, petty merchants, or de-
yotees Bonvolot more nearly approached
the city than any explorer since Hue and
Gabet.
1t is understood that Mr.. Rockhill has not
abandoned his ambition to reach Lhasa. He
hopes before long to make his third attempt
upon the forbidden city. The prospects do
not seem bright, but Mr.. Rockhill's persistcncy
may yet enable him to accomplish what he
and other explorers have failed to achieve.
-New York San.