New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-07
Literary WesOS and Criticism.


hundred miles thither from Gvantse ware
through unknown territory. Accordingly on the
ground or obtaining information in regard to
the SUITABILITY of the place to trade require
ments and Of surveying the passes ON the FROM
tier, $50 that future proposals for opening other
marts should be based accurate informa tom
party Of engineers and surveyors with a small
escort under command Of the author. was de-
tailed to explore the route and to investigate
the possibilities Of Gartok
Apart from its political and geographical OBJ
jects the expedition was regarded as a sort of
"balon d'essai," to determine whether the IT,
betans were prepared to act up to the spirit as
well as the letter of the lately signed treaty. In
this respect, the results were extremely salts
factory. Every effort made by the Tbetan
government 10 facilitate the progress of the
party, and official accompanied it to see that
all instructions We're faithfully carried out An
agreeable incident to the author was the pres
ence of Ram Singh. promoted to Raj Sahib for
his services the previous year. Everywhere
along the route the British met with welcome
and courtesy, and IL is curious to note the diff
ferent impressions the natives made upon the
author on his two adventures. On the first one
which he undertook at his own risk and against
the wishes of the Tfbetans, they appeared to him
to be "a dirty, villanous looking crew." who
greeted him with angry, scowling looks"
Now, however, they seemed to be hospitable
pleasant and mild hammered. The author is not
one to seek to penetrate much below the surface
manifestations of the people and their customs
His interests are almost evenly divided between
geography and sport Fortunately, he found
ample opportunity to indulge his fondness for
both. and his keen observation and graphic de-
scriptions render even his somewhat superficial
comments on the manners and characteristics
q aiDfp
Unfortunately, the speed with which he was
compelled to make the journey. in order to cross
the lofty passes into India before winter pre-
vented him from extending his Investigations In
many directions that promised rich results.
Unattractive as are the homes and modes Of
living of the lower classes the well-to-do people
he found to live not only in comfort but with
some elegance. Thus he describes the provision
for the entertainment Of the party at Jorgya:
: Our tents, were pitched on delightful lawn,
and covered with beautiful, soft rich grass. Well
grown and closely planted trees surrounded the
on the place from the prying eyes Of passersby.
Attached 10 the garden the house q large two
storeyed puildlng, which had been designed with
eye to comfort, the interior yard being full or
found in England. The proprietor was man. tail.
broad and stout, one of the few big men 10 be
pleasure he hustled about, followed by his
wants in eager anticipation Of our wants.
AT shigatse, the British officers were received
by the Tashi Lama, in the sudden absence Of
the Dalai Lama, the head OF the Buddhist Faith,
to whom probably one-third Of the inhabitants
of the world render homage. Only about TWEEN
ty-three years of age. of very fair complexion
and finely chiselled features, ''his face is most
prepossessing-g entleness. goodness and bland
innocence of the ways of the world being the
chief characteristics He appeared to be healthy
but not robust, and his voice low and gentle.
while constant smile played about his face.
It was his first interview with Europeans, and
at first his manner betrayed some nervousness,
which gradually wore of Le became inter-
ested in the plans and personnel OF his visitors.
He wore no Jewels but his dark red monks
cloak made of rich material with many
slashes Of red silk, and his silken underrobe
was embroidered with gold. formal but gra-
| cious ceremony was observed in serving the
| inevitable tea and refreshments
AS another evidence Of the good will OF the
| people, the author notes that the mail dis
| patched from their various stopping places
| was promptly forwarded and delivered, although
there were no stamps and the officials declined
to receive any money, stating that payment
was required. the letters were on government
! service Engineering skill of no mean order
was observed in the construction of several
suspension and cantilever bridges. one a
! bination Of both forms OF construction. From
| the summit OF the Kiira La, magnificent view
| Of Mount Everest obtained, and the OBJ
! servers were able TO settle in the negative the
moot point whether there were any higher
peaks peak in its neghborhOod, but not
. visible from India. ShOrtness of time prevented
close examination of Manasarowar Lake and
! the adjacent Kaias Peak, two of the most in
! teresting and sacred spots in Tibet. Here with
! in a radius of few miles rise four of the great
! est rivers OF Inda-the Indus. the Brahmaputra,
the Sutlej and the Ganges. The author was
unable TO explore the exact sources of the
Indus. owing TO the approach Of cold weather,
and they still remain unknown. He was, how
ever enabled to solve an interesting geograph-
ical problem and to determine. among conflict
ing evidence, that Lake Manasarowar finds an
outlet for its surplus water into the adjoining
/ Rakas Tai, in spite Of the fact that Mr.. Savage
/ Lander had declared that the ridge between the
J two lakes is continuous. with average height
Of a thousand feet and that the lowest depres-
sion is three hundred feet above the level OF the
| lake Captain Rawlings, nevertheless, found
| distinct channel, though 1t dry at the time
and doubts if the highest point in the ridge is
/ three hundred feet above the lakes. Applying
a proportionate reduction to the countless lofty
realzs the ascent Of which Mr.. Savage Lander
! describes with so much airy noncnalance. would
| considerably detract from the glamour of his
| seIf-recorded achievements.
C;artok, the capital of Western Tibet. the main
| objective Of the expedition. proved to be two
| ;pconsiderable settlements forty miles apart.
/ Car Yarsa, the summer quarters consists of
! .t-oe good sized houses and twelve miserable
| novels Gar Gunsa, the winter quarters. boasts
two houses occupied by the Garpons. one mon