The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-28

get very far before We once more had the
Thibetans upon us.
.They sprang up on every side. their
numbers increased, and they rode In close.
ordered troops on both tanks Of our cara
van; then they disappeared. and anon re-
appeared racing past. W. at full gallop:
With these bands We lived upon . sort OF
war footing, and every night posted
strong guards or outposts round our camp.
We were but scantily supplied with am
munition. but luckily shots were not ex-
changed. Whom We showed signs OF con-
tinuing our journey the Tibetans sent a
deputation ID me, logging me In touching
terms not to proceed further
when they found their request was UNI
Needed they hurriedly despatched couriers
our way.
Later on that same day there was another
rift In the lutte. Iiadyeh 1sering and Yum
dnk Tscring, two OF the Dalai Lanas min
listers or members Of his depdshung tor
counci) came direct from the holy city,
bringing with them $40 mounted men, and
against such a force | had no inclination
to declare war.
these officials read to me a proclama-
ton from the Dalai Lama, which among
other things. contained the following pas
"Iet letters be sent with all speed to
Namsu and Naktsang, that no Russian can
have permission to travel on any of the
roads Of Naktchu and inward as far as my
kingdom extends. Let letters be sent to
all the chieftans.
Watch the frontiers of Naktsang. 1t
is absolutely. essential to guard strictly
every part OF the country. II Is entirely
unnecessary that any European shall enter
into the Kingdom Of the holy books and
spy out the land. In your provinces they
have nothing whatsoever to do.
If they say they have, then know they
must not travel to Lhassa. And if they do
travel. then shall You lose your head. See
to it that they turn back by the way they
came
thus for ten days longer we were hon
escort, though we lived on the best of terms
with its leaders. We visited one another
every day, and they arranged a Jikitorsd
In my honor, gave me horses and sheep,
and throughout treated me with the ut
most politenees.
spectacle with their sheets of tents, their
innumerable fires. their troops OF horses
and horssmen. While my caravan, es-
corted by the Tibetans. marched from the
eastern shore Of the lake of CharGut -tso
round by the northern shore, I and Kut-
take soundings, the arrangement being
that the caravan was to look out for us at
the western extremity of the lake
But a more disagreeable voyage it has
never been my lot to participate in. When
the caravan had disappeared behind the
mountains which shut in the lake on the
north, and we were far out on the water.
We were overtaken by violent westerly
storm. and 1t was only by dnt of the very
greatest exertions that we managed to
reach tiny rocky islet: and there we were
kept prisoners for forty-eight hours.
AT last the tempest subsidized, and We CON-
tinued our voyage by night. I making my
soundings by moonlight. with the aid Of q
lantern. Next morning the storm broke
out afresh, and We again took refuge on q
similar rocky islet.
'In the afternoon Of the same day We
once more started, but only just managed
TO roach the western shore. through having
tempest. We only just escaped being
wrecked; and. utterly exhausted by our
exertions, we slept that night on the DESC
late lake side. and, after going for one day
more, we're seen by the men whom the
leaders OF my own caravan sent out In
search Of US.
"On my return TO camp I was greeted
by the Tibetans with shouts of joy. During
my absence they had manifested the ut
most uneasiness. and kept necessarily
The latter at length told them ] had rowed
to the southern side Of the lake, had there
procured horses. and ridden to Lhasss.
INSTANTLY they sent out patrols OF fifteen
to twenty men to ride round the lake. and
even go on farther to the south. In the
meantime ! and Kutchuk were quietly
smoking our pipes on the tiny islet in the
middle Of the lake.
But now they were convinced had not
escaped them. their delight knew no bounds.
They met me on horseback and conducted
me In triumph to their tents, where, under
the protection Of their idols Of Buddha,
and In the light Of their oil lamps, ! was
entertained in the most sumptuous manner.
By that time they were fully satisfied that
seriously meant to leave their country
The explorer then led his party west
ward and after great hardships reached