Page:Mongolia, the Tangut country, and the solitudes of northern Tibet vol 2 (1876).djvu/176

154 were plentiful here, and we had no difficulty in exchanging our tired-out beasts for fresh ones, by making an additional payment of ten to twelve lans a-piece (2l. 15s. to 3l. 6s.). We had now again eleven camels, but our money was reduced to 100 lans (27l. 10s.). How could we expect with such a pittance as that to get to Lhassa, however great our good luck otherwise? Shortly after our arrival at Koko-nor a Tibetan envoy paid us a visit; he had been sent in 1862 by the Dalai-Lama with presents for the Emperor, but arriving here at the time of the outbreak of the Dungan insurrection in Kan-su and the occupation of Si-ning by the rebels, he was detained, and ever since then had lived here or at Tonkir without being able to continue his journey to Peking, whilst he did not dare to venture back to Lhassa. Hearing that four Russians had passed through the very country which he was afraid of entering when backed by an escort of several hundred men, he came to see what manner of men we could be.

This envoy, whose name was Kambi-nansu, was a most obliging, amiable man, and offered us his services at Lhassa. He told us that the Dalai-Lama would be very glad to receive Russians, and that we would be well received. We listened to this with heavy hearts, for we saw clearly that now nothing but want of money prevented us from penetrating to the very heart of Tibet! When will any future traveller have so good a chance as we were thus compelled to forego? How much will have to be spent another time to attain an object which a small expenditure