Page:Across Thibet Vol. 2.djvu/14

 Across Thibet.

1

CHAPTER IX.

AMONG THE THIBETANS.

"A Man is Coming "—Description of the First Thibetan Encountered— Thibetan Horsemen— Driving a Bargain — A Savage's First Sight of a Watch — Uncomplimentary Comments — On the High Road to Lhassa — Getting Information under Difficulties — English and Russians in Bad Odour — Lake Burben-cho — The Dungan shows his Seals — Silos — A Thibetan Interior — A Native "Woman — Imatch Done Up — Prayers Engraved on Stones — Taking a Prisoner — Death of Imatch — In Sight of the Ningling Tangla and the Namtso.

January 30.—Although we get a little lower down

is still intense, the minimum of to-day

zero at an altitude of 14,200 feet.

h lighter and walk much more freely,

^s we have no longer to concern our-

n looking for the route, we are able to

e the ridges of the hills more carefully,

5 if there is any sign of movement or

>ts resembling tents.

uary 31. — While the beasts are being

loaded and we are sipping our tea in

the tent, we hear shouts, and Abdullah

comes rushing in, beaming with joy,

and says, "You can get out your

purse and pay the winner : a man is

coming." We enjoin Abdullah to

THE FiKST THIBETAN ENCOUNTERED, ^^eat thc straugcr wcU, give him

some tea, take him up to the fire, and try to soften him down and coax what he can out of him. On the arrival of the Thibetan, he is greeted in Mongolian, 29

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