This morning great commotion where our watchersare. They erect two beautiful tents. While our tea boils three of them come to say their Chiefs arrived in the night and we stopped a.day; shortly we are invited to come to his tent—it is magnificent and has a profusion of heautiful carpets, rugs, silver lids and saucers for the basins. The head Chief is dressed in Chinese silks, about 32 years of age and handsome. His servant asks for our basins and we are poured tea—we give him a scarf of ceremony, and deliberation continues a long time; will not allow us to pass Ngachuka and we return to our tent. We have only arrived when he sends us presents of flour, rice, butter, tea, a sheep, and a scarf of coreinony—we send him a beautifully bound copy of the New Testament. In the evening two sets of watchers are ordered close around us, so we will sleep well because they will not allow our ponies to be stolen.
2nd September.
This morning after much prayer we decided that for the sake of the work it would be better for us to go towards Tachienlu than to Darjeeling; though if our ponies were only fresh we could easily pws through here and past Lhassa having thus decided when asked to see the Chief we were inclined to yield. ed September.
To-day a Chinaman and the Chief's Secretary came to ask on what conditions we would goto Tachi-niu. We tell him that our tired horses must be changed for fresh ones and two extra ones given us. Also that an escort of two or three men would be provided, who know the road and would bring us to Cashi-Gomba or to Jyckundo if we wished. We hope to winter at the former place, and if not allowed to do so,.at any place we can, and for as long a time as we can.
4th September, We have had our horses brought us to-day, and shortly afterwards we are invited to the Chief's tent. He tells there are many kinds of foreigners and also the Roman Catholics. He fairly screamed the Chinese of the latter to us, and evidently dislikes them very much, He gives us presets of a bag of rice, one of flour, one of fsanba, tea, hatter, and two sheep, for our journey. We accept the butter and sheep, and refuse the others. He then adds another large lump of butter. Rahine, our Ladak man, wishes to go home from' here, and though the official refuses to allow him to, he decides to lave us after we are in the road for half a day.
5th September.
We start this a.m., accompanied by three men supposed to know the road well. We have nine horses, seven loaded ones and two riding animals, and had a pleasant journey for several days, very cold with snow, Crossed three large rivers, the first of which we swam. Distribute Gospels and text, almost exhausting our supply by 15th of September. Large plain road.
Our men do not know the road, and are informed {that aiter.crossing the Tachu large river) we are to leave the main road, and follow the river down, and in half a day we would reach Tashi-Gomba, We "teach and cross the and camp shortly after on its bank. Near dark two men on white horses hoarily armed nppeae out of the valley we have just come from and talk from across the stream with one of our men; one had his face painted in many colours.
21st September.
Last night put our iron pans on the horses and watched all night, but everything was peaceful. - We start small bad road and have to walk a good part of the way. We descend a mountain side whi us on Aa grassy spot between wi the cliff. There is a yak trail, but a man is sent ahead to see whether the road is passable. As ho does not return we conclude the tond is good and drive the packhurses on. After going some distance we find the road impassable and th" man sitting near the sheep ata place where the river boils against the cliff. I suggest fording the river and refording it further on—our natives are afraid but suggest returning a little and after drinking tea take the upper road. We acquiesce and after taking off the loads boil the tex at the foot of the cliff. Suddenly a shot falls near us and the two boys run to get the horses, when one of them is shot through the upper arm and they all run into the shelter of the cliff.
I run out to see from where the shooting comes and looking up see three men hiding behind the cliff, but a flash warns mo to bend down, and I involuntarily do so. Just at that moment a bullet whizzes past my head. Several shots follow aimed to frighten the horses, who in confusion run towards the road we had just come over. We all keep sheltered by the cliff to avoid the bullets and huge pieces of rock hurled down to prev-ut us following to get the horses. How many robbers there were we do not know. After a few more shots and a final yell silence reigns. We found that of our nine horses five had been driven away and three shot, so that one, the most tired of all, was the only survivor. Our three men have zone away saying they would yo to the Lunasary and refurl with help for us. They have not returned. Our dog has gone also.
22nd September.
Our men have not returned. We spent a very peaceful but sleepless night knowing His care. Hope they will return with yak, if not we will try to get on as best we can, Is the road correct? We get the most necessary things ready, put everything else carefully away under stones, "and when nearly dark start back over the hill walk ing, carrying a load and leading the loaded horse. 'Travel a little distance beyond the robbers' ambush and just lie down sup-perles. We have no tent.
23rd September.
The load is very heavy. Make, broulefast on the bank of a small stream at the foot of the hill. Travel three hours and have to ford the Tachu, as a cliff bars our way. Lawim across, leveling the pony, with part of our things, when I return for Susy, and the rest of our valuables. We stop for the night.
25th September, These tivo days have been spent in yoing far in from the riverside to get round some rocks barring the road along the bank. Wo see tents by means of the telescope far down.on the other bank. It has snowed and our horse slips and rolls over and over down the hill so that we are wbliget to stop, and [decide to try to ford rho river and reach the tents. The horse ix swept away and Lroturn. Wo and Tam-to swim across in the morning.
26th September, Mr, Rijuhart drank toa and taking " fow dry garments done up in oilcloth hey down to swim the river and get thuse teat When half way in the water he turns and only to come with animals to our aid.
shouting something to mo goes out of sight around the rocks up the river. Presently I see with the telescope a flock of sheep at the place towards which he has gow and conclude heis with the people owning them.
For several days I stayed around, but no clue as to what had happened could be obtained. He has undoubtedly fallen a prey to the avarice of wicked tent people or robbers, perhaps the saiae ones who robbed us of our horses.
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1600-99 234 ith Oct., 1898,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.