It is thought here that General Pereira intended to try and work his way Yhrough the uncharted virgin territory of the Goloks, a tribe of Lolo natives. This and the Hehhui country remain the two sections of forbidden land on the. Szechuan and Tibetan borders. It was known that the General's objective was Lanchow-fu in Kansu, and making the attempt from Batang and Kantze lends colour to the Golok country theory. The General wisely kept his intentions to himself because enough obstacles have been put in his way by Chinese authorities and tribes headmen to convince him that secrecy was the only way to effect success. Last year in Chengtu he confided to close friends that he would like to attempt this closed country. If anyone could do it, General Pereira was tthe man for he had a way With him that always won out against all obstacles. On this Vast trip he encountered opposition that would have effectually daunted a less determined man. The Chinese blocked his passage every way and refused to give him escort. He could only proceed by giving a written statement absolving the Chinese from all blame if accidents overtook him. He gladly did, and taking all responsibility, moved steadily forward. It was providential that this time he had a travelling companion and a physician. Perhaps he had a premonition that this time he would need assistance. The General did a great deal of travelling above, having with him only his personal servant and porters.
Last year he told the writer that when lhe was through with Tibet in another couple of years, ha wished to cross the Andes on foot, and traverse the South American continent from the Pacific to Atlantic. The General was only 58 and felt he had many years before him. An interesting incident took place here last year before the General started for Lhasa. On a preliminary trip he got his feet frozen and had to return to Chengtu for medical treatment. His personal servant had been giving him some trouble posing as a tax collector under the protection of the foreign General and filching money from the people; for this and other misdemeanours the General delivered an ultimatum to the servant, who had served him well, that he could either leave his employ, or take a whipping at his master's hands. He chose the latter and the General laid on the cane without mercy.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.