Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-04-24
SVEN HEDIN'S MARCH IN AN uN-
KNOWN LAND.
ROBBED AND CAPTURED
Well Treated but Conducted Out of
the Country in Very Summary
Fashion vertheless-Thousand
of Photographs Taken and Many
Sketches Secured.


sends to this magazine an abstract of
a 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 it's 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 ac-
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-
ters In northern Tibet July 81, 1901
and. disguised as Buryat and accom-
panied only by Lama, a Monaghan 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 a 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
marches, when one evening they were
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 we'll 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
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 Hedin
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 a large caravan in
L. ;nl, 90
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 a prisoner of war under
guard of 20 soldiers.
They reached their caravan on the
2sth of August, very thankful to have
escaped so easily, and found all in
good order. After necessary rest the
whole caravan continued it's way in a
southwesterly direction, determined
to keep on their course until stopped
again by the Tibetans. This hap
pened in a short time, on the east
side of the Naaksang-Tfo lake, where
an embassy from Lhasa stopped them.
It was 800 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 1--WE will
fire upon the caravan" was the steady
reply He attempted to make it clear
10 the good people that each of his
forces could easily dispose of at least
Sc Tibetans, and that their fire would
be of no great danger to them. The
chief considered on this argument that
ii would be as well for both parties to
attempt to come to some understand
ing without shooting. Hedin then
continued on the march in 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
for several weeks that they became
convinced that Hedin and his party
did not intend to profane their holy
city, and the stately cavalcade left
them to pursue their way alone TO