and Captain Sheppard should not be forgotten in connection
with the exploit. The recapture of the jong in this
absolute and final manner had a practical importance
which was even greater in a political than in a military
sense. The confidence of the Tibetans in the impregnability
of their newly-strengthened position was
perhaps the prime cause of their obstinate refusal
to negotiate on equal terms with us. And there is no
doubt that if they had been allowed to retain their
fo r t' during the negotiations at Chang-lo, it would afterwards
have been interpreted as evidence of our inferiority.
To have defended it successfully for some
days, or even to have inflicted heavy loss' upon the
expedition during its capture, would have encouraged
the Tibetans to defend to the utmost every other post
of vantage along the route to Lhasa, but, as it was,
a lesson of the first importance was taught the Tibetans,
and the absence of all opposition henceforward is unquestionably
due to the exploits of the gunners and the
Gurkhas on this day.
This recapture closed the Gyantse episode of the
expedition. It was now imperative that an advance
should be made to Lhasa. Mr. Brodrick cabled from
home to that effect, and after twelve days’ preparation
the General was able to continue the advance. During
that time reconnoitring parties were sent out in all
directions, Dongtse was occupied, and a small force
pushed on down the valley till Penam jong was reached.
This is an imposing structure, but, from a modern point
of view, is open to every objection to which the apparent
impregnability of Gyantse had been proved to be
liable. Enormous stores of grain and tsampa were
found in Dongtse. Penam, too, was found to' contain
A D V A N C E TO LH A S A O RD ER ED 77
about twelve thousand pounds of butter*— a fact which
cast some doubt upon the bona fides of the monks of the
Palkhor choide in having asked that the fine of twenty-
five maunds might be remitted.
The jingal embrasures on Gyantse jong.
Contradictory reports about the Karo la, about the
willingness of the monks to fight, about the attitude
* This Tibetan butter is kept in tight cornered leather sacks firmly stitched down. It
is strengthened with fat and lard and seems to keep indefinitely, though from the first
the smell of it is somewhat rancid.