Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 104 (Color Image)

0104	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

CHAPTER X

TO LAN-CHOW

PEREIRA had now to make a big detour before he

could enter Tibet. The direct route would have

been through Batang to Chamdo. But this for

some reason, of which there is no record, was not

available. Perhaps the passes on the way were

not practicable in the depth of winter. Perhaps

robber bands prevented his passage. Whatever

the cause, the result was that Pereira had to make

a detour of hundreds of miles, and he did not

actually reach Chamdo till July 28.

The General and Magistrate came nearly three

miles out of the city to say good-bye as he left

Ta-chien-lu on January 7, making first north and

then east to Kwan-hsien, a town lying only a

short distance north-west of Chengtu which he

had first reached so many months ago. Pereira

now had his first experience of travelling by ula,

the Tibetan corvée system. The inhabitants are

bound to supply animals for transport when duly

requisitioned by the official. Pereira employed

twelve oxen yak, two ponies for himself and

servant and two for his escort. These animals

only cost half a rupee a day, and he gave the men

the same amount as " wine money ". The animals

National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books