I N T R O D U C T O R Y NOTE.
We of the Tibet Mission and its escort were honoured
with the conduct of a task which for fascination of
interest could hardly be surpassed. Few, if any, of us
doubted the wisdom of the great and far-seeing statesman
who initiated the enterprise and inspired it throughout.
But, whether the policy was wise or unwise, we
determined that it should not suffer in the execution.
On us, we felt, were fixed the eyes of many millions, not
in India alone, nor in England alone, but all over
Europe and America also, and in many an Asiatic
country besides.
We who work in India know what prestige means.
Throughout the expedition we felt that our national
honour was at stake, and down to the latest-joined
sepoy we bent ourselves to uphold and raise higher the
dignity of our Sovereign and the good name of our
country : to show that not even the rigours of a Tibetan
winter nor the obstinacy and procrastination of the
two most stolid nations in the world could deter us from
our purpose ■ above all, to try to effect that purpose
without resorting to force. If, as unfortunately proved
to be the case, fighting were inevitable, we were determined
still to show moderation in the hour of victory,
and to let the ignorant Tibetan leaders see that we