Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 332 (Color Image)

0332	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

248 PEKING TO LHASA

Its elevation is 9536 feet. There was light rain

all day. He got very chilly riding and was glad

to have a house to stop in. The last European

along the road (with the exception of Père Nuss-

baum going up the valley to Yargung) was

Teichman, who went about one and a half stages

up. So far as he knew, no Europeans had been

along the road to Litang for nine or ten years.

His miscellaneous collection of transport

animals—donkeys, mules and ponies were now

changed for yaks, and he made another short

march of 61 miles to Pongdramo (Pang-chra-mo).

There was first a steep ascent up the stony hill-

side, the valley narrowing between high fir-

covered hills. At 14 miles he passed the scene of

a fight a few days previously between Chinese

soldiers and the Nanka Lama. The path then

descends slightly and crosses a side stream full of

boulders, and afterwards continues up the valley

with the Ba Chu, a small raging torrent, always

on the right, to Pongdramo, two or three ruined

houses on a clearing. The day was cloudy in the

morning, but the sun came out in the afternoon.

The yaks were quite unsuited for this enclosed

country. They were constantly running in all

directions and shedding their loads. Long delay

was caused by them in crossing a small torrent,

into which they deposited two of Thompson's

boxes.

About twenty-eight Wa-shi men, some of

Pereira's own and others taking the opportunity

of his presence to return to their own country, a

few marches north, accompanied Pereira and

formed an escort, as they were armed with Mauser

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