For a few days the rumour was rife in this city that Kerung-Tseng, the Chinese Special Delegate to Lhasa, had been murdered there, by Aka Man-la of the Kingdom of Kham, formerly Tibetan secretary to the High Commissioner in Sining, who left for home last autunin, taking with him 1,000 taels of silver. subscribed for the rebuilding of the Tafuhse in this city. A near relative of the Fuhie sent a special messenger to me to inquire if I had heard any news, and another special messenger came from Kumbum to hear if the news was true. Needless to say if it had been true it would have caused auch sorrow in many quarters, for the Fuhie is a coming man in Tibetan affairs and a man of exceptional ability and much honoured among the people here. He is also the Chief Lama of the Hongkiao sect commonly called A few days after more news came through from Lhasa saying that the Aka Man-la had been killed by the Fuhie, but now reliable news has come in a letter from the Fuhie, who has arrived at Derge on his return journey. Aka Man-la after a few days' rest at his home proceeded to Lhasa and_ was there when the Fuhie arrived. When the consultations were going on the Fuhie became conscious of some strong undercurrent at work hindering the reaching of a satisfactory settlement. The opposition becoming stronger, the Fuhie began secretly to find out where the obstruction lay, and finally traced it to Aka Man-la. He had him seized, tried and severely punished, and sent off home. Shortly after reaching his home, he died from some internal injury received when beaten. Being such a prominent man the affair has caused quite a sensation among the Tibetans here. Aka Man-la was a disciple of a Fuhie, who is a great friend of Kerung Fuhie. He was also considered to be a friend of the latter. What caused him to work against the Fuhie is not yet known, but no doubt he is not alone in opposition. It may be only jealousy ly among the Lauias of the Yellow Sect, the reformed Buddhists. who are afraid of Kerung's powerful influence or it may be that the Lamas down in Kham are content with nothing less than the return of the old boundary line in Szechuan and will agree to no other settlement. Kerung Fuhie reports his mission as having been very successful though some of the boundary difficulties have not yet been settled. He is expected back in Sining in August.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.