Without doubt this created a great impression on
the enemy, but care was, nevertheless, taken to
strengthen the guard over our ponies, and the animals
were compelled to pick up what grazing they could
close at hand, for had the Tibetans stolen our beasts,
we should have been completely at their mercy. As
night closed in, our escort increased, a steady stream
of men arriving post haste, the jingling of the bells
on the trappings of their ponies being heard far over
the plain.
At 9 p.m. the headman arrived.
We had by this time carefully matured our plan
of action; it was necessary for us to take the bull
by the horns and boldly play the game of bounce.
Khalik was at once sent to the headman’s tent with
minute instructions as to what he was to say. Here
he demanded a full apology for the insults received : it
was represented that we, who were peaceful travellers,
had been set upon, while quietly marching along the
plain, by a set of ruffians; we had not only been
touched by them, but actually seized round the legs
and arms ; that someone must suffer for this ; such disgraceful
treatment was absolutely unheard of, etc. etc.
The reply came from the headman to the effect
that he was extremely sorry that we had been subjected
to such indignity, and he would come over himself
in the morning and make an ample apology.
This sounded very promising, but it remained to
be seen whether the official’s deeds would be as good
as his words.
CHAPTER X V III
TURNED BACK
On inquiry it was found that the so-called country
residence of the venerable old gentleman with the
protruding tongue was, in reality, a watchguard
placed to bar the road to Rudok from the east, and
that our host had, while protesting his willingness to
serve us, sent off messengers to the gold-fields to
give information of our arrival.
Grave doubts were entertained as to whether the
new arrival was a sufficiently important personage for
us to deal with, for the Tibetans will never send a
man of higher rank than is absolutely necessary for
any purpose, and they are, as is well known, adepts at
the art of delay. Further resistance, however, was out
of the question, for we knew that these people would
be perfectly willing to sacrifice their lives if called
upon to do so by the lamas, and, above everything, we
wanted to avoid bloodshed.
Their methods of preventing travellers from trespassing
in their country are certainly effective. They
make no appeal to arms—but rather to legs; if they
fought, they would in all probability be defeated, and
possibly annihilated; they therefore seize the caravan
animals, bar the road, clasp the intruder round the
waist, bare their chests and ask to be shot; whereupon
the traveller is rendered utterly powerless.
We succeeded in photographing our opponents,