P A R T I
EXPLORATION IN CENTRAL TIBET
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
The ancient history of Tibet is practically unknown.
Neither in its monasteries nor in its temples have
records been discovered which throw any light on its
rulers or its people. Inhabited it must have been, as
it lay contiguous to the powerful kingdom of China,
with its teeming population and commercial wealth.
Marvellous indeed must have been the earliest journeys
made by Europeans, for it is known that between the
sixth and eleventh centuries Nestorian and Armenian
missionaries penetrated far into the country in their
efforts to propagate the Christian religion. No accounts
of their travels, however, are now in existence, and it
was not until 1626 that the Portuguese, Antonio de
Andrade, mentions in a letter, dated August 15th of
that year, that he had crossed the Himalayas and
visited Tsaparang, on the head-waters of the Sutlej.
An event of far greater importance was, however, near
at hand, for the accounts of Johann Grueber, an
Austrian of the Jesuit Order, and of Albert D’Orville,
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