62 IN TIBET AND CHINESE TURKESTAN•
to make for Kangri, where, at the annual fair held in the autumn, we might purchase sufficient supplies and transport to enable us to reach Almora. The position of • Kangri we did not know, but, according to Dilsuk Ram, there were three practicable routes leading to it. The most direct route was to the west of south ; another lay, at first, to the east of south ; and the third, the easiest but longest, lay for two marches in a westerly direction along the valley in which we were now camped. Having decided on the first of these routes, we served out abundance of ammunition to Leno, Sanman, the two Sikhs, Dass, and two of the caravan men, with strict orders that no shot was to be fired except by our command, or in reply to the fire of the Tibetans. Our preparations caused great excitement among the armed men, more than two hundred in number, who watched us from the eastern side, at a distance of about a quarter of a mile. They had their ponies close by, and presented a rather formidable appearance, so that Pike and I thought fighting not improbable. We kept the caravan in close order and went more slowly than usual, that the sheep might not be left behind. To our surprise, no opposition was offered, and we began our advance in the direction Dilsuk Ram had pointed out. Here, however, we could find no track nor any feasible line of country, and we were obliged to turn westwards along the easy valley route. This movement seemed to indicate an intention of returning to Ladak, and explained the finally pacific attitude of the Tibetans.
It was necessary now to search for a way across the mountains, and for this purpose we camped at the south side of Lima Ringma Chaka (Long Far-distant Salt-place), beside fresh water and grass. Soon after unloading we observed four mounted men who halted not far to the west, and we despatched Rainzan to ascertain what they wanted. They professed to have been sent to guide us
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