New-York tribune., 1901-08-25


12mo. pp. 400 Fleming IT, Reveu Company.
The inhospitabIe regions of Thibet and Chi
nese Turkestan are among the last portions Of
the earth to resist the exploration and examina-
ton of Europeans; and TO these regions a num-
ber of travellers have recently devoted their
erges Captain Deasy is one of the most noted
of these; and though his explorations did not
take him far into the interior of the forbidden
land. he accomplished important results in the
surveying and mapping OF parts of the country
! and in filling up blank spaces the map-re-
suits that have been adopted in the govern
mental chart of India Like that of all the other
explorers who have attacked the Businesses of
Thibet. his work was done under great diff-
cuIties. He had long stretches of uninhabited
country 20 cross. much Of it desert. much of it
mountainous; and wherever there were inhab-
itants his advance was always Obstinatey Op-
posed. His book is a sober ard detailed account
of his journeys. which were two; one in 1896.
taking him over the mountains to the east Of
Kashmir. and in a circuitous route back to his
starting point; the second. in the following year.
to Yarkhand. Kashgar Khotan and Kiria-
1t was q substantial caravan that started in
May. 1895 from Leh, in Kashmir over the
mountains including but other European.
Albert Pike; twenty men. besides carriers; for
transport. twenty-seven mules. thirty-fve ponies
and fifty sheep and more than six and half
tons of baggage and food for men and animals.
all Of which must be packed and unpacked every
day. Almost the first people met with the
route a band OF rowing robbers. ~ChUkpas"
from whom the party suffered serious depreda-
tions: few days later party of nOnad shep-
herds was seen. in encamDrnent of seven
wretched tents. who received the strangers in
the calrnest manner. Negotiations for the pur-
chase of yak. however. We're stopped by the
appearance of the chief. who commanded fur
ther that sort of aid be given.
He said. truly enough, that il was against the
laws and customs to permit strangers to enter
the country. and that he and his people would
be severely punished IL they supplied guides or
transport This ObstructiOnst was Obdurate
and would accept neither payments pres
ents. nor even listen 10 our proposals. He said
that the Deva Zung the official head at Lhasa
was god and would certainly know Of any
transactions between him and the strangers
And he was a type CT most of the people met
in this inhOspitabIe land Those in the 'inhab-
ited" country We're little more attractive They
live in tents even here. and the news of the
Englishman's approach set them vigorously %
accommodating in order 10 be prepared to turn
him back. They were greatly surprised at the
snallness of his force. and he fell more and
more under the suspicion OF being concerned in
a subtle scheme for the invasion OF the capital:
to the occasion. and, havi- & struck up warm
friendship with Thibstan visitor. assur him
in the strictest confidence that the rema-nder ~
our force had been packed away in the YAK dams
and baggage. This explanation. rerea-eG in ma
Thibetan encanlpment. proved highly SatIStdr-
tory. and thereafter and our bel el1DglCSS were
regarded with respect and awe.
Captain Deasy's second journey was even more
difficult and the suffering and trials ~ eXperL-
enced from cold and exposure in takinr IS
trigonou, tricaI q. ervations stiU greater. IN
certain portions Of Chinese Turkestan the peo-
pie welcomed the travellers and. when NOT f0r-
hidden. were willing TO assist them. The Caj-
nese officials. however had character. way
OF issuing public orders for Captain pea-y'- as
sis,ance. and then secretly countermand.r- ts--n
with instructions Of an opposite natu-e. H-s
medical knowledge frequently Ca "a upon.
especially his skill in dentistry. and he
sometimes delayed in his mOveIneufs ty tAe
throngs of people who wanted TO have teeth
pulled This operation was usually performed
by the village farrer who. whi.a the patient
held by three men. applied Ills huge
pincers and pulled out not merely the one o.
Tending organ but often some iroGens.y, teeth
besides The small size OF his to~cepS and the
rapidity with which his patients were relieved
insured him large practice.
The whole governmental system - Turkestan
is rotten TO the core and official :raud and
squeeze are universal there as in emma