Tibet, bogs to report that the period having arrived for again forwarding the customary articles of tribute to Peking, a Khambu and a Nang-so have been despatched on a special mission from Anterior Tibet, travelling, as has been the previous custom, by way of Szechuan.
The Timu Hutuktu, who is comptroller of the Treasury in Tibet, has represented to the memorialist that a Khambu and Nang-so have been deputed to convey to Peking and reverentially present to the Emperor the customary articles of periodical tribute. The Hutuktu who conducted the last mission had suggested that the route by way of Hsi-ning should be substituted for that through Szechuan, but the proposal having been vetoed owing to the objections raised by the Governor-General of Shensi and Kansu, the present mission will follow the example of its predecessors and travel through Szechuan. The articles of tribute had all been enrefully prepared, together with a congratulatory letter to the Em. peror. The Khambu, Kung-ch'io-cha-i and the Nang-so, Lo-pu-tsang-ch'ti-chiioath, accompanied by forty persons lay and clerical, had been deputed to proceed to Peking'with the above, and it was asked that the Throne should' be duly apprised of the. proposed mission, The Resident remarks that a Nang-so was always attached to these missions and granted permission to trade, in order to display the desire of the Imperial Court that ample return should be made for what was received. The tribute offerings have been examined, weighed, and securely packed under the superintendence of a Commissary, acting in conjunction with the Kablans or Councillors of State. The Mission is to be escorted as far as Szechuan by a body of ten soldiers under the command of a Lieutenant of the Ma-pien garrison who formerly served in Tibet, and its departure is fixed for the 24th of June. The Resident has issued a Pass which will secure it a supply of provisions and transport animals from the postal stations until it reaches China Proper, after which its maintenance, travelling expenses, and a supply of 160 mules will be furnished by the Chinese local authorities. The Resident submits a list of the articles of tribute, states that has notified the authorities of the provinces through which the Mission is to pass of its departure, and adds that he has written officially on the subject to the Colonial Superintendency, Peking.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.