Lucknow for another 50 rupees. Gold is not dealt in at Gerge, but at Thok Gerche, a place about two days' journey to the south-west. . There, as we were informed, traders bought it at 16 rupees per tola of about 180 grains. This price, at 1s. 4d. per rupee, would be about equivalent to - £2 16s. 10d. per ounce. Whether the Tibetans were over-reached would, of course, depend on the purity of the gold.
Pending the arrival of the Pombo, Leno was able to execute some topographical work, while I again set up my theodolite and prepared for observations at night to determine the deviation of the compass. For work of this sort, I invariably set up the instrument by daylight, since it was almost impossible to do so with accuracy by lamplight.
Later in the day a messenger came from the Pombo, who had just arrived in the native encampment from some outlying place, and we were informed that, as it was not his custom to transact business in the evening, he would visit us early next morning. We were ready to receive him early next morning, but he kept us waiting. Companies of mounted men, armed with guns and swords, began to appear, and there was a considerable display of force within 100 yards of our tents. The delay of the Pombo seemed due to the desire to impress his own people with a sense of his importance, and it seemed our duty to uphold our dignity in a corresponding manner. When, after noon, the great man was announced, we took time to deliberate, and then sent him word that it was contrary to our custom to attend to important affairs till we had finished out midday repast. Having devoted about two hours to our simple meal, we had a numnah spread for the Pombo in my tent, and invited him to enter and be seated. He had assumed that his company might enter along with him, but, to his displeasure, was
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