The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-12
SVEN HEDIN'S FAILURE.

How He Was Turned Back on His
Road to Lasso.
In an address before the Royal Geo
graphical society in London the other
day DR.. Sven Hedin gave the following
account Of his futile effort to reach the
Thibetan capital, Lassa.
The next day, the seventh of our
journey, we crossed a wide open ex-
panse, bounded in the far distance by a
range Of low mountains, and overlook
caravan of three hundred yaks, led
by thirty Tibetans, and laden with
Chinese tea for Tashi-lumpo on the
Bramahputra. The eighth day carried
us over couple of very high passes,
beyond the second OF which we entered
a region fairly we'll peOpled with no
mads; their black tents dotted the
clefts and slopes Of all the mountains in
the vicinity. The next evening We
pitched our tent in a sort of corrie be-
side a brook, and had to the south Of
us the mountains which overhang Ten
grf-nor on the north. We had now
travelled a distance of one hundred and
eighty miles from our main camp.
Thus far were we destined to go, but no
further. For just before it got quite
dark we were surrounded by Tibetans,
who announced that we were their
prisoners, and that one step further
would cost US our lives. We according
~ halted and awaited passively the
progress Of events Thirty-seVen SEN
tinels were posted round our tent. We
saw the Tibetans fires through the mist
in every direction, but more especially
on the road towards Lassa, The next
day, too, we kept tolerably quiet upon
perceiving band of fifty-three mount
ed men, armed with long black mus
kets, swords, pixies and lances, spring
up like mushrooms out of the ground,
and gallon in extended order towards
our tent. Uttering a string of widest
yells, or war-whoops they charged
straight down upon us, but swinging
off to both sides drove on past, then
wheeled round and came back again
like hurricane. flourishing their pixies
over their heads After that they
pitched their tents close to ours and be-
gan to shoot. This they did, it would
SEEM to inspire US with respect Our
impression was, that, if they intended
to take our lives in polite manner, it
was scarcely necessary to levy so many
people to do it. They were ell dressed
in black and red cloaks; the officers
wore big white hats, while the remain
der had red bands round their heads.
AS rule, however, the Tfbetans go
bareheaded, and never have their hair
either combed or cut.
Meanwhile, we were treated with the
greatest friendliness by the first-com-
ers. An old lama assured us that we
had nothing whatever to fear; the Da-
lai Lama had given orders that we
should be treated with the greatest con-
sderation, and that all We needed in
the way of provisions should be provi-
ded us free of cost. Accordingly, they
brought us milk, butter and lard in
their bowls, and presented us with
more mutton and f1reWood than we
knew what to do with, nod would they
accept any kind of payment whatsoever
in return. In the course of a few days,
he said the "bombo," or governor Of the
province ofNaktchu would arrive and
then we should know our fate. And in
due time the said high official put in
his appearance and we soon saw a
large village of white and blue tents
spring, up alongside the road to Lassa
Through his interpreter. who spoke
Monaghan, the governor invited me to
a grand banquet in his tent, but I an
swered that if he wished to see me he
was at liberty to pay me visit, Ac-
cordingly, in the course of the after
noon we perceived crowd of horse
men gallop out from among the tents
and ride towards us. They consisted of
Kamba- BOmbO governor of Naktchu
and Nanso Lama, accompanied by sew
eral other dignitaries, besides officers
and soldiers armed as if for a cam
paign-sixty-seven Of them in all. each
man mounted and dressed in handsome
ceremonial robes. / question whether
they ever clearly understood who
was; but, seeing the pomp and ceremo-
ny they assumed it was evident they
imagined somebody out of the common
was disguised beneath my tattercd
Nongolian garb. All these men car
ried swords. suspended from richly
chased silver bells. ornamented with
corals and rubies They wore, further.
caves Cor talsman cases) round their
necks. and were adorned with rings,
bracelets and other finery, and had
their hats trimmed with feathers.
Meanwhile Kamba Bombo was in the
very best humor. now that he had US
completely in his power, and declared
categorically that, no matter who we
were, we must retrace our steps if we
did not wish to have our heads cut off,
at the same time drawing his hand sig
nificantly across his throat. I found it
was perfectly useless to argue with
him. he had imperative orders from the
Dalai Lama. Thereupon he presented
me with couple of horses, flock Of
sheep, and some provisions-gifts of
priceless value. which, however, ] was
totally unable to return-and appointed
an escort of three officers and twenty
men to accompany US as far as the
River SatyuSangpO on our way back.
With these men we were soon on the
most friendly footing, SO that when