Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 250 (Color Image)

0250	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

184 PEKING TO LHASA

were against me with the probability that after

trudging to Nagchuka I should be turned back

and have to return disappointed across the frozen,

wind-swept plains of North Tibet. How glad I

am now that in those dreary Tangar days I

decided that there should be no consideration of

failure, and that barring a direct veto from India

I would go through coûte que coûte. And now I

look back it is wonderful to think how I was

protected by Providence. The old weak spot on

my spine might not have been able to bear the

strain and I might have got a stroke on one of

the great passes or even minor evils like lumbago

or sciatica. Or the old game leg might have

gone. But luckily he proved game to the end.

My feet, too, though tender at times in the frost-

bitten spots, have kept sound. In the end every-

thing has fitted in in its right place. But I

would not make the return journey for a million

pounds."

The distance he had travelled from Peking

was 63601 miles, of which he had walked 35271.

He was curiously particular about the 4 miles,

and recording them like this is characteristic of

his methodical, accurate habits.

The distance from Chamdo to Lhasa was 6701

miles. The " ula " transport from Chamdo had

cost him 750 tankars plus 353 tankars for wine

money, total 11081 tankars, or about 102i Tangar

taels, which is equivalent to about £20 : 10s. For

this he had the use of from twenty to thirty

animals a day. So it was a remarkably cheap

journey.

His stores at the end of his journey consisted

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