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
CAPTURE OF JONG 221
not be undertaken unless there was adequate ground for
doubting the competency of the Tibetan delegates or the
earnestness of the Tibetan Government. Moreover, some
few days' delay was necessary for General Macdonald to
P' complete his arrangements for the advance, to collect
sufficient supplies, and to establish Gyantse as his
secondary base.
I therefore, immediately the jong was captured, asked
the Tongsa Penlop to send messengers to tell the Ta Lama
tt Rt and the Councillor at Nagartse that I was still ready to
negotiate, as previously announced, but that they must
t? come in at once, as otherwise we would proceed to Lhasa.
Ii But the messenger found the monastery in which they
Ii had been staying deserted and the delegates fled.
i On July 9 the Government of India telegraphed
k to me that they considered the advance to Lhasa in-
k evitable, but that if the delegates could be induced to
come in and negotiate en route I might invite them to
1 accompany me, explaining the terms of His Majesty's
is Government, and warning them that any further resist-
it ance would involve a settlement less favourable to Tibet.
i By July 13 General Macdonald's preparations were all
it complete. He had reconnoitred the country both up and
down the valley, and found the Tibetans had fled in every
Yi direction. He had amassed plentiful supplies. He had set
% about repairing the joug, in which he was, to my infinite
ii regret, to leave Colonel Hogge, and the 23rd Pioneers, and
I., he was ready to leave for Lhasa the next day. It was sad
ii that the old Pioneers, who had borne the burden and the
s cold of the day at Tuna all through that dreary and
1! anxious winter should be left behind, while other regiments
who had but just arrived from India should have the glory
of going to Lhasa, and I would willingly have had it
otherwise.
All were now eager and ready for the advance, and I
wrote to the Chinese Resident, that as neither he nor any
competent Tibetan negotiator had come to Gyantse I was
proceeding to Lhasa. I stated that my purpose was still
to negotiate, but that I must ask him to prevent the
Tibetans from further opposing my Mission, and I inti-
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