ADVANCE TO KAMBA-JONG 39
loudly and publicly that under no circumstances whatever
would an advance from Kamba-jong be permitted.
This intelligence was instantly communicated by a
gentleman in the pay of the Chinese to the Amban in
Lhasa, and from that moment, naturally enough, the
ultimate necessity of an advance to Lhasa itself was
ensured.
The stay at Kamba-jong of the Mission was, therefore,
not of the greatest political importance, but a
brief account of it is here necessary. On the 5th of
July Mr. Claude White, the Political Officer in Sikkim,
and Captain W. F. T. O’Connor, the only white man
who can speak Tibetan fluently, arrived at Giao-gong,
high up the La-chen Valley, where they were met by
a small party of Tibetans who attempted to oppose
their progress. It was pointed out to them that Kamba-
jong had been chosen by the Indian Government for
negotiations, and that the Chinese Government had
assented and undertaken to co-operate with the Tibetans
in negotiating at that place. To Kamba-jong, therefore,
the members of the Mission intended to proceed.
Hands were laid upon their bridle reins but easily
brushed aside, and no further active opposition was
offered. They moved on that day to the true frontier
at the Kangra Lamo Pass. On the next day they
actually set foot on Tibetan territory and were met by
a small Chinese official named Ho, who asked them not
to go on to Kamba-jong; they returned the same
answer to him as to the Tibetans at Giao-gong, whereupon
he ceased all further opposition and drowned
his cares in opium. On the next day Kamba-jong
was reached, and a small encampment was made at
the foot of the hill on which the fort is built. This