Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-04-24
IN TIBETAU WILOS
SVEN AEptN'S MARCH IN AN UN-
KNOWN LAND.
ROBBED AND CAPTURED
the Country in Very Summary
Fashion heIess-Thousands
of Photographs Taken and Many
Sketches Secured.

Mr.. John B. Jackson, secretary of
the United States embassy at Berlin,
sends to this magazine an abstract of
q letter from Sven Hedin to King
Oscar of Sweden, describing Sven
Hedin's march across Tibet. The let
ter is dated at Leh, India, December
20, 1901. and was received at Stock
holm late in January of this year.
During the last three years that he has
been in Asia, Sven Hedin has ex-
plored and mapped six thousand
miles of territory previously unknown
TO civilization. He has taken over
1000 photographs and sketches This
expedition, in its results, is the most
important he has ever made, and
marks him as one of the most daunt-
less, accurate. and original explorers
Of history, Before the publication of
the more scientific results of his jour
ney he will write large book for the
public describing his travels. An &C
count of his work during the first two
years of the expedition appeared on
page 1893, volume xii, of this magazine
DR.. Sven Hedin left his headQuar-
tiers in northern Tibet July p, 1901,
and, disguised as a Buryat and accom-
panied only by Lama, a Mongolian be
longing to the caravan, also disguised
as Buryat, set out on his march to
the south. They carried only absolute
necessities, but when two days out
were attacked by robbers and relieved
of various articles besides their two
best horses. This taught them the
need of night watches, so they took
turns in watching every night three
hours at time, which was hardship,
for it was the rainy season, and It
poured. The further south they went
the more wet it became, until at last
the ground was little better than a
deep morass. which threatened to en-
gulf them. But they worked through,
and at last reached inhabited land.
where the black tents of the nOmads
greeted them and the rich grass prom
ised fine feed for their cattle. Lama
| was able to communicate with these
nomads, and was shown the way to-
wards Lhasa.
They went on for two hard days
suddenly halted by some native chiefs.
| Three soldiers appeared before their
tents and informed them shortly that
| they were to consider themselves pris~
oners and forbidden to attempt to es-
| cape under penalty of death. They
were very well treated, however
Everything they required was supplied.
but they were kept in ignorance OF
what was to become of them pending
the arrival of the "banbo," the COVER
nor of the province, who had been
notified of their capture, and who
would on his arrival decide what was
to be done with them. Meanwhile
their anxiety was increased by the
departure of large force, fully armed,
back on the track, and they feared
that an attack on their headquarters
was contemplated. Finally the banbo
arrived, and word was sent to Hedin
that he would receive him. To this
Hedin replied that he had no special
desire to see him, but that if his ex-
cellency desired to meet him he was
always to be found in his tent! The
result was that the governor, accom-
panied by 81 chiefs and courier sol
diers, appeared at his tent, gorgeous
ly apparelled. They informed HediR
that he was known to be an English
man, and that it was impossible to
allow him to proceed to Lhasa He
was also informed that they were
aware that he had large caravan in
the north, which was attempting to-
enter his province of Nokktgin, and
accordingly all northern entrances
were strongly guarded. The banbo
then gave Hedin presents of horses,
sheep, etc, and returned him to the
border as prisoner Of war under
guard of 20 soldiers.
They reached their caravan on the
28th of August, very thankful to have
escaped so easily, and found all III
good order. After necessary rest the
whole caravan continued its way in
southwesterly direction, determined
to keep on their course until stopped
again by the TtDetans. This hap
pened in short time, on the east
side of the Naaksang-Tfo lake, where
an embassy from Lhasa stopped them.
1t was 300 riders strong, heavily
armed with guns, swords, and pixies.
He asked them what would happen if
in spite of their command he insisted
on pushing to the south eve will
fire upon the caravan" was the steady
reply. He attempted to make it clear
to the good people that each of his
forces could easily dispose of at least
81 Tibetans, and that their fire would
be Of no great danger to them The
chief considered on this argument that
it would be as well for both parties to
attempt TO come to some understand
ing without shooting. Hedin then
continued on the march in a westerly
direction, being accompanied in good
fellowship by the Tibetan guard. Near
Tyargutso the troops were aug
mented by 500 riders, and it was not
fc- several weeks that they became
cC1yInced that Hedin and his party
lid not intend to profane their holy
city, and the stately cavalcade left
hem to pursue their way alone to
oanggong and Leh, where they ar
lived in good condition on the morn
ng of the 10th of December, 1901.