国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
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India and Tibet : vol.1 | |
インドとチベット : vol.1 |
174 TUNA
We moved along as rapidly as is possible at those high
altitudes and encumbered with heavy clothing. A short
way out we were met by a messenger from the 'T'ibetan
General, urging us to go back to India. I told the
messenger to gallop back at once and tell the Lhasa
General that we were on our way to Gyantse, and were
going as far as Guru, ten miles distant, that day. I said
that we did not want to fight, and would not unless we
were opposed, but that the road must be left clear for us,
and the Tibetans must withdraw from their positions
across it. Farther on, as we advanced across an almost
level gravelly plain, we came in sight of the 'Tibetan
position in a series of sangars on a ridge. At 1,000 yards'
distance we halted, and awaited the arrival of the 'Tibetans
for our last palaver. They rode up briskly with a little
cavalcade, and we all dismounted, set out rugs and coats
on the ground, and sat down for the final discussion. I
reiterated the same old statement—that we had no wish or
intention of fighting if we were not opposed, but that we
must advance to Gyantse. If they did not obstruct our
progress or did not attack us, we would not attack them.
But advance we must, for we had found it impossible to
negotiate anywhere else. They replied with the request—
or, indeed, almost order—that we must go back to Yatung,
and they would negotiate there. They said these were 1
their instructions from Lhasa. They also did not wish to
fight, but they had orders to send us back to Yatung.
There was no possible reasoning with such people.
They had such overweening confidence in their Lama's
powers. How could anyone dare to resist the orders of
the Great Lama ? Surely lightning would descend from
heaven or the earth open up and destroy anyone who had
such temerity ! I pointed to our troops, now ready
deployed for action. 1 said that we had tried for fourteen
years inside our frontier to settle matters. I urged that
for eight months now I had patiently tried to negotiate,
but no one with authority carne to see me, my letters
were returned, and even messages were refused. I had
therefore received the commands of the Emperor to
advance to Gyantse, in the hope that perhaps there re-
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