IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| India and Tibet : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
180 TUNA
Peking," and then again ask for transport. He hoped I
would recognize his perplexities. I had excellent reason
for an advance to Gyantse with my escort, he said. But,
notwithstanding the craft and deceit of the Tibetans and
their violation of principle," he had compelled them
somewhat to understand the meaning of principle," and
if I suddenly penetrated into their country he feared they
would lapse into their former temper, and thus imperil
the conclusion of trade relations. The Dalai Lama had
told him that if I would retire to Yatung he would select
Tibetan delegates and request him (the Resident) to
proceed there and discuss matters. The Resident added
that " this frontier matter had been hanging fire for over
ten years because it had been perfunctorily drawn up in
the beginning, and because subsequently it was shirked by
the different delegates, who did not strive honestly to
adjust the difficulties." He was ashamed to mention the
question of my retirement to Yatung, but, still, he thought
it would be better for me to retire there and insure the
smooth working of a settlement."
This is all we got after waiting for him for fifteen
months. I replied, informing him of the circumstances of
the Guru fight, and telling him that I was advancing on
Gyantse, which I expected to reach in about a week, and
I hoped that I should then have the pleasure of meeting
him and a high Tibetan official with the power to make a
settlement which would prevent any further useless blood-
shed.
On the way to Gyantse, at the Tsamdang Gorge, the
Tibetans again opposed our progress by building a wall
across the narrow passage. But General Macdonald dis-
lodged them and inflicted heavy loss, and on April 1.1 we
arrived at Gyantse.
We found the valley covered with well-built hamlets
and numerous trees and plenty of cultivation. Most of
the inhabitants had fled, but the jong, or fort, which
stands on an eminence in the middle of the valley, was
still partially occupied. The Commandant was informed
that General Macdonald proposed to occupy the jong on
the following morning, and would expect to find it vacated
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