followers, but with a large force. They came down into Rudok, and conq uered that country, making it a base for a fresh start into Lhasa. This is interesting to us from the point of view as to whether it is possible for an armed force to reach Lhasa from the west. The Mongols made a good try, and then the inevitable thing happened —their horses died ; but with only ninety men they succeeded in getting as near as Shigatse, which they reckoned was eight days' march from Lhasa. Then they turned round and went back to Rudok. Another interesting point is that the Tibetans, after true Tibetan fashion, received the Mongol general with great hospitality ; they even assisted him to get together another force to harry another part of their own country. Well, it was centuries after, that the next attempt was made from Rudok to reach Lhasa. This time it was made by Sikhs. General Zorowar Sing, acting for Ghulab Sing, who was Raja of Kashmir, attempted to reach Lhasa by Leh. He came to grief exactly as Mirza Haidar had come to grief before him—his horses gave out before he got to Lhasa, and he beat a somewhat hasty retreat. It is curious to observe that the fighting that was done was not done by Tibetans, but by Ghurkas, who were sent across the border to fight them. Thus we learn from history that the attempt to make any military movement, at any rate from the west, is an exceedingly difficult and perilous one. Once again, not long after, a small and turbulent tribe of the Himalayas, the Ghurkas (who had conquered Nepaul), thought it was time to have a look into Tibet itself. They made their attack directly over the passes, and they were successful ; moving very rapidly, they succeeded in reaching Tashilumpo. They absolutely destroyed the place, and they were inclined to settle down there. When the authorities fled to Lhasa they sent information to China, and asked for assistance; and then
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