CHARLES WILLIAM WASON 
 COLLECTION 
 
 CHINA AND THE CHINESE 
 
 THE GIFT OF 
 
 CHARLES WILLIAM WASON 
 
 CLASS OF 1876 
 
 1918 
 
Cornell University Library 
 PR 6005.R85W5 
 
 A wHe from the forbidden land jthe seen 
 
 3 1924 023 396 348 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tliis book is in 
 tlie Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924023396348 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
BY THE SAME AUTHOR 
 
 SEf^^ORITA MONTENAR 
 FOR THE REBEL CAUSE 
 A MODERN SLAVE-DEALER 
 CAPTAIN ENDERIS 
 GLIMPSES OF FEVERLAND 
 ON A SURF-BOUND COAST 
 SILVERTOWN AND NEIGHBOURHOOD 
 SOCIAL ENIGMAS 
 
 *,* For reviews of these works see end 
 of this volume 
 
A Wife from the 
 Forbidden Land 
 
 (The scene of this story is laid in the Tibetan Capital during the lifetime 
 of the predecessor of the present Dalai Lama] 
 
 By 
 Archer Philip Crouch 
 
 <il5lS^l§l 
 
 London 
 
 John Long 
 
 13 and 14 Norris Street, Haymarket 
 
 [All Rights Meserveii] 
 
First Published in igo^ 
 
 PLYMOUTH 
 
 WILLIAM BRENDON AND SOH| LIMITED 
 PRINTERS 
 
A WIFE FROM 
 THE FORBIDDEN LAND 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE setting sun shone in Philip Harwood's face, as 
 he rode through the eastern gate of Ta-chien-lu, a 
 town in the Chinese province of Se-chuan, lying on the 
 borders of Tibet. Though mounted on a sorry mule, and 
 followed on foot by two ragged coolies, who stumbled 
 wearily along with his baggage on their backs, the rider 
 bore himself as proudly as if he were the governor of the 
 province, attended by a brilliant suite. His Chinese 
 costume and pigtail secured him from the annoyance to 
 which a European in European clothes is subjected in an 
 inland Chinese town. Indeed, the dark eyes, in conjunction 
 with a complexion deeply tanned by travel, might have 
 caused the casual observer to take him for. an Asiatic. 
 
 The young man rode at a walk along the main street, 
 looking with interest at the scene before him. For here 
 met and commingled two very different nations, the frail 
 offspring of the effete Chinese civilization rubbing shoulders 
 with the robust, uncultured children of Tibet. Philip 
 Harwood paid no attention to the long line of Chinese 
 coolies forming a tea caravan, which he had overtaken at 
 the gate. Man is the cheapest beast of burden in China, 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 and for several weeks past during Philip's journey through 
 the country he had been familiarized with the fragile 
 figures of the coolies, emaciated by constant opium smoking, 
 carrying, for the magnificent sum of three-halfpence a day, 
 a framework supporting from three to four hundred pounds 
 of brick tea. What excited his curiosity was the stream 
 that met him coming from the western gate of the town — 
 Tibetans with their fearless bearing and hearty laughter, 
 the richer class attired in gorgeous silks, and mounted on 
 gaily caparisoned horses, the poorer driving that shaggy, 
 uncouth, grunting transport animal of Tibet, the yak. 
 
 The contrast between the Chinese and Tibetan women 
 was still more striking than between the men. It seemed 
 almost incredible that these handsome women with their 
 fine figures and graceful carriage should belong to the same 
 racial stock as their crippled and sickly Chinese sisters. 
 After the timid and oppressed air of the latter, it was re- 
 freshing to see the frank smiling countenances of the 
 Tibetan women, and to listen to their musical laughter. 
 Even the style of the buildings attested the dissimilarity 
 between the two nations — an insignificant Chinese tea- 
 house made of wood being overshadowed by a massive 
 Tibetan structure two or three stories high, and built of 
 brick or stone. 
 
 But the fading light warned Philip Harwood that he must 
 be seeking shelter for the night, and reining in his mule, he 
 inquired of a Chinaman who stood at the door of a small 
 store which was the best inn in the town. The man pointed 
 to a Chinese building a little further down on the /opposite 
 side of the street. It proved to be a fairly large structure, 
 with a courtyard full of mules and yaks. Philip leapt 
 lightly off his animal, and giving the bridle to his coolies, 
 who had already deposited their burdens on the ground, 
 marched towards the door, calling loudly for the landlord. 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 A typical Chinese innkeeper made his appearance, and 
 asked querulously what thie traveller wanted, 
 
 " I require accommodation for myself and stabling for 
 my mule," he replied curtly. 
 
 The innkeeper's manner changed at once. With his 
 travel-stained clothes, jaded mule, and meagre retinue he 
 had taken Philip for a customer to whom there was no 
 occasion to be more than ordinarily civil. But the young 
 man's words — ^he spoke excellent Chinese — and the authori- 
 tative tones in which he uttered them, produced an im- 
 mediate effect. 
 
 " My house and stables are very fuU, Your Excellency," 
 said the innkeeper, bowing obsequiously, " but a room shall 
 be made ready for you, and your animal shall find a stall." 
 
 " That is well," replied PhiUp, appeased by the man's 
 deferential attitude. " The next question is, what can you 
 give me to eat ? The air of Ta-chien-lu is very appetizing, 
 and I am ready for my dinner. Is that your eating-room ? " 
 
 Philip advanced towards the open door of an apartment 
 from which the welcome odour of savoury viands came, 
 but the innkeeper quickly placed himself in front of him. 
 " The meal is not yet prepared, Your Excellency ! " he 
 exclaimed. 
 
 " Then my sense of smell deceives me ! " answered 
 Philip. " At any rate, you can empty the room of these 
 noisy fellows whom I hear within it, and I will wait there 
 till the dinner is cooked." 
 
 The innkeeper could not conceal his agitation. " If 
 there were none but Chinese in the room, the heaven-born 
 would only have to show himself at the door for each of 
 them to make his obeisance and withdraw. But there are 
 several braggart Tibetans within, who, having no acquaint- 
 ance with the usages of civilized society, might refuse to 
 leave the room." 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Philip turned and took the mule's reins from his coolie's 
 hands. " If you were the only innkeeper in Ta-chien-la," 
 he said, " I should make short work of your objections. 
 As it is, there are plenty of houses for me to choose firom, 
 where I shall doubtless be better served." 
 
 During the course of this conversation a small crowd had 
 collected at the entrance to the inn. When they saw that 
 the traveller who had spoken so dictatorially intended to 
 depart, they looked at the landlord to see what he would do, 
 the Tibetans laughing at his predicament, while the Chinese 
 wondered that he had shown so bold a front. The inn- 
 keeper himself was fully aware of the danger of incon- 
 veniencing a person of such evident authority, and had 
 recourse to abject entreaty. 
 
 " If the father of the poor," he said, " would only 
 have a little patience, I will cause the' room to be 
 emptied for him, and he shall dine alone as becomes 
 his rank. But I must first find some apartment where 
 the present occupants may take their food. Will that suit 
 His Excellency ? " 
 
 But Philip would not submit to any compromise, and 
 without replying to the innkeeper was on the point of re- 
 mounting his mule when some one stepped out of the crowd 
 and laid his hand upon the young man's arm. Although 
 attired in Chinese costume like himself, Philip recognized 
 a European in the tall middle-aged man who stood before 
 him. 
 
 " Do not seek another inn," he said in English. " I can 
 offer you a plain bed and simple fare, if you wiU be content 
 with that ? " 
 
 " It is very kind of you, sir," replied Philip, " and your 
 offer is too tempting to refuse. But may I ask whom I 
 have the pleasure of addressing ? " 
 
 " John Ransome, of the Enghsh mission here." 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 A smile of pleasure lit up the young man's face, and he 
 held out his hand. 
 
 " I might have guessed that you were Mr. Ransome," he 
 said. " Your brother missionaries in the districts I have 
 traversed gave me your name, but I was ashamed to impose 
 myself upon you till I had at any rate tried to get quarters 
 elsewhere. I am an Englishman, as you no doubt saw at 
 once, and my name is Harwood— Philip Harwood." 
 
 Mr. Ransome had already given the reins of Philip's 
 mule to an attendant, and was leading the way down a side 
 street in the direction of his house. He seemed to be on 
 the best of terms with both Chinese and Tibetans, the latter 
 being especially cordial in their manner towards him. As 
 for the children, they ran up and struggled with each other 
 for the possession of his hand, walking along at his side in 
 supreme content when they had secured the coveted prize. 
 
 But the English mission was soon reached, and Mr. 
 Ransome led his guest into a spacious courtyard. Here 
 the mule was stabled, and Philip paid off his coolies with 
 a liberaUty which left them speechless. The missionary 
 then conducted him into the house. Philip had spent the 
 last eight or ten nights in small wayside Chinese inns, and 
 only those who are acquainted with them can realize his 
 satisfaction in entering once more a European's home. 
 
 " I will take you to your room," said Mr. Ransome. 
 " By the time you have washed and changed, supper will be 
 ready." 
 
 The bedroom, though scantily furnished, delighted 
 Philip's heart, the narrow bed with its spotless sheets, the 
 clean floor, and the trim washstand in one corner. , But he 
 was too hungry to spend any time inspecting his new 
 quarters, and in twenty minutes he descended again to the 
 room to which he had been first conducted. He found Mr. 
 Ransome awaiting him, the table laid for two. 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " I live by myself, you see ! " the missionary said, 
 motioning Philip to a seat. " It is now nearly three years 
 since I had a fellow-worker here." 
 
 " You must find it lonely," observed Philip, as a Chinese 
 servant entered with an appetizing soup. 
 
 " I missed my late companion at first, of course, but I 
 have so much to occupy my thoughts that there is no time 
 to be lonely." 
 
 If Philip could judge of the extent of Mr. Ransome's 
 acquaintances by the numbers whom he greeted in the 
 short journey from the inn to the mission, it was evident that 
 the missionary would have few opportunities for loneliness. 
 The young man did full justice to the plain but well-cooked 
 food which was set before him, and then they drew their 
 chairs up to the fire, for the thermometer, which had been 
 over 70° in the sun that day, now stood at freezing-point. 
 To Philip's delight, his host produced a box of cheroots. 
 
 " It is one of the few luxuries I allow myself," said Mr. 
 Ransome, taking one of them himself. " A cheroot is 
 company for a solitary man. As I smoke it I go over again 
 my day's work, or make projects for the future." 
 
 " Your cheroots are in good condition, considering they 
 have gone a sea voyage," said Philip. 
 
 " On the contrary, they have never been afloat ! " Mr. 
 Ransome answered. 
 
 " You do not mean to say that they are of Chinese 
 growth and manufacture ? " 
 
 " No ; they are Indian, and come to me overland through 
 Bhamo. Some friends in India send them to me regularly." 
 
 " Have you lived in India then ? " inquired Philip. 
 
 " I was for several years chaplain to an English regiment 
 there." 
 
 " You do not see many EngUshmen here, I suppose ? " 
 
 " No Englishman but myself Uves in Ta-chien-lu, but one 
 
 10 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 occasionally passes through the town. Tibet possesses a 
 great attraction for explorers, and the majority of them are 
 English. A man called Grigson was here a few months 
 ago." 
 
 " I do not remember having heard the name," said 
 Phihp. 
 
 Mr. Ransome smiled. "The world does not hear of 
 every one who tries to explore Tibet. Some men have 
 sense enough not to make their failures public." 
 
 " Was Grigson's attempt a failure then ? " asked Philip. 
 
 " It was. I saw him before he entered Tibet, and I 
 hardly recognized him on his return. He had talked to 
 me of his plans. Travellers had hitherto failed to reach 
 Lhasa for two reasons, he said ; the huge caravans 6f the 
 rich excited the suspicion of the Lamas ; the funds^f the 
 poor gave out before half the journey was accomplished. 
 Grigson had plenty of money, but he intended to take only 
 one attendant, and his caravan would be restricted to the 
 wants of two persons." 
 
 " And his plan did not succeed ? " 
 
 " He forgot to reckon with the brigands, or ' Chukpas,' 
 as they are called. One of their number, who offered his 
 services as a guide, led him into a narrow defile, both sides 
 of which swarmed with his fellows. A single repeating rifle 
 was useless against such odds. Grigson's attendant was 
 shot through the heart, and he himself, stunned by a stone, 
 was left for dead, while all his property was stolen. It is 
 wonderful how he ever got back alive. One evening after 
 dark a wretched being in rags and half dead through want 
 of food knocked at the mission gate, and I found that 
 Grigson had returned." 
 
 Philip was silent, pulling hard at his cheroot, and gazing 
 into the glowing embers of the wood fire in front of him. 
 Then he looked up and said — 
 
 II 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " Well, I hope to have better luck than Grigson." 
 
 This observation did not take Mr. Ransome by surprise. 
 He had already taken stock of his visitor, and divined the 
 object of his journey. In fact, so certain did he feel of the 
 truth of his conjecture, that he related the story of Grigson 
 for the young man's special benefit. He now laid his hand 
 on Philip's arm and said — 
 
 " I can tell you how to make certain, my young friend, 
 of having better luck than Grigson." 
 
 " How ? " asked Philip. 
 
 ''' By not making the attempt at all." 
 
 Philip smiled. 
 
 " I do not wish to insure against failure in that way," he 
 answered. " I would sooner fail than not make the attempt 
 at all. I have been working for the last five years in my 
 uncle's office in Shanghai, but the occupation was dis- 
 tasteful to me. I lost my father when a child, and my 
 mother has just died, leaving me a little money. As my 
 only sister is married, I am free from all ties, and nobody 
 would be any the worse if my venture ended fatally." 
 
 " Heaven forbid ! " exclaimed Mr. Ransome. " But 
 are you specially qualified for the task you wish to under- 
 take ? " 
 
 " In Shanghai I made the acquaintance of a Tibetan 
 Lama. He gave me lessons in his native language, and I 
 can speak it very fairly." 
 
 " You will find it useful in your travels. As to the 
 customs and manners of the inhabitants, if you know them 
 as well as you know the Chinese, you will do well. I could 
 not help overhearing your conversation with the innkeeper 
 this afternoon," he added, smiling. 
 
 " I suppose you thought I took matters with a high 
 hand," said Philip, in some embarrassment at Mr. Ran- 
 some's avowal. 
 
 12 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " If you had been a special envoy from the Emperor 
 himself you could hardly have demanded more. Not that 
 you were wrong in doing so. In fact, it, is the only way to 
 deal with the Chinese. The reverse of the scriptural text 
 holds good with them. ' He that exalteth himself ' 
 obtains the first place, while ' he that humbleth himself ' 
 is still further degraded by them. But I must warn you 
 that the same rule is not applicable in Tibet, or at any rate 
 amongst the eastern population." 
 
 " Do you know Eastern Tibet ? " asked Philip. 
 
 " I spent some time in the English mission at Batang, 
 but we were driven out of the country many years ago. 
 Though it has always been my dream to go back there, I 
 am afraid its realization is as far off now as on the day of 
 our expulsion. The opposition to us came not from the 
 laity, but from the Lamas." 
 
 " I can understand that neither the Tibetans nor the 
 Chinese approve of Europeans settling in Tibet. They 
 point to India, where state after state has been absorbed 
 by us when once it has given free entry to Englishmen. 
 But that is no reason why travellers should not be allowed 
 to pass through Tibet. I should be content if I could visit 
 Lhasa for a couple of weeks, or even a couple of days." 
 
 " That has been the object of scores of travellers since 
 Hue and Gabet were driven from the city in 1845. Yet not 
 a single man has succeeded, though many capable and ex- 
 perienced explorers have made the attempt." 
 
 " Their failure only strengthens my resolve to try my 
 luck. At the worst I shall but meet with the same rebuff 
 which fell to the lot of my betters." 
 
 Mr. Ransome regarded the young man with an approving 
 gaze. 
 
 " Now that I have said all I can, though without effect, 
 to dissuade you from yoiu project, I cannot help letting you 
 
 13 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 know that I admire your determination. Youth, after all, 
 is half the battle. If I were young again, and did not have 
 this mission in my charge, I should be inclined to join you, 
 In any case, you may be sure that I will do all I can to help 
 you in your venture." 
 
 14 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 IN spite of the unaccustbmed luxury of a European bed, 
 Philip Harwood rose with the sun on the following 
 morning. He found Mr. Ransome already about, and they 
 sat down to breakfast together. In connexion with the 
 young man's approaching expedition, the question as to 
 the most suitable beast of burden with which to cross the 
 barren and storm-swept regions of Tibet came under dis- 
 cussion. In Western Tibet sheep are much in favour for 
 purposes of transport. They carry twenty-eight pounds 
 each, and are docile and easily managed. Their chief 
 recommendation lies in the fact that fodder need not be 
 taken for them, as they pick up sufficient sustenance from 
 the scanty patches of withered grass to be found by the 
 roadside. Not only can they do without supplies of carried 
 food, but they form a walking larder for their master, from 
 which he can supply himself with meat whenever he 
 requires it. In Western Tibet caravans of two or even 
 three thousand sheep are not at aU uncommon. The chief 
 objection to this animal is its slow rate of progress, eight 
 miles per day being a usual average. 
 
 Horses are seldom used for transport purposes on account 
 of their initial cost, and because they break down more 
 readily under the scanty food and other hardships inci- 
 dental to travelling in Tibet. The camel makes a useful 
 beast of burden|in districts like the Tsaidam, where fresh 
 water is scarce. This cumbersome animal, however, is 
 apt to get footsore on stony ground, and its great bulk and 
 
 IS 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 weight are unsuitable to the narrow paths cut in the face of 
 cliffs, of which the main roads in Tibet very often consist. 
 Mules and donkeys prove very good baggage carriers, but 
 the best animal for the work is the indigenous yak. The 
 yak seems positively to revel in the cold of its native 
 country, picks up its sustenance along the track it travels, 
 and can carry two hundredweight of baggage. No animal 
 can equal it in rocky and precipitous paths, and the only 
 thing that can be said against it is its inability to cover 
 level ground as quickly as a mule or donkey. 
 
 The question of transport was fuUy discussed by Mr. 
 Ransome and Philip, and it was eventually decided that 
 the caravan should consist of mules alone for the first part 
 of the journey. Mules were plentiful in Ta-chien-lu, while 
 the yaks were comparatively scarce and dear. The town 
 stands only eight thousand feet above the sea, whereas in 
 a natural state the yak is seldom foimd below twelve 
 thousand feet. The climate of Ta-chien-lu, in consequence, 
 does not agree with these animals, and they are seldom to 
 be found there in large quantities. 
 
 The next question Philip had to consider was the hire of 
 muleteers, as well as a personal attendant for himself. This 
 last matter proved to be a difficult one. Mr. Ransome 
 knew several Chinese who would make good servants, but 
 were not strong enough to withstand the rigours of the 
 Tibetan climate. Nor could their courage be relied upon. 
 They had before them the fear of punishment at the hands 
 of the Chinese Amban in Lhasa for accompanying a Euro- 
 pean in a forbidden journey in Tibet. Thus a Tibetan 
 servant was regarded as almost indispensable, and Mr. 
 Ransome promised to do his best to procure one. 
 
 Meanwhile Philip Harwood set out by himself for a walk 
 through the town. The bright sun and the crisp morning 
 air seemed to enliven even that most patient of drudges, 
 
 i6 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the Chinese tea coolie, while the Tibetan mule drivers were 
 full of merry laughter. The young man made his way to 
 the market, as he would soon have to get in a stock of pro- 
 visions for the journey, and he wished to gain an idea of the 
 price of articles, and the best places for purchasing them. 
 Here he was once more struck by the contrast between 
 the two races, which meet in Ta-chien-lu — the weakly 
 Chinaman, with his stall full of useless trinkets, side by side 
 with the burly Tibetan, who confined his stock of goods to 
 tea, parched barley, and other necessaries of existence. 
 
 Phihp Harwood was returning along the main street in 
 the direction of the English mission, when loud cries and 
 tlje cracking of whips assailed his ears. A person un- 
 acquainted with the customs of the country might have 
 thought that a street riot had broken out, and that the 
 sharp cracks were the reports of the firearms used by the 
 combatants. Philip, however, knew better, and stepped 
 into a doorway to avoid the hustling of the foot passengers, 
 which takes place when a mandarin of high rank passes 
 through the streets. 
 
 On came the procession, a group of attendants in front 
 carrying long whips, which they cracked incessantly and 
 used upon any one who failed to get out of their way in 
 time. PhUip had often witnessed in the native quarters of 
 Shanghai this evidence of the despotic tj^ranny of the 
 governing over the governed classes. But what he had 
 not seen was the effect of such a display upon a partially 
 alien population, and he looked round to observe the bear- 
 ing of the Tibetans in its presence. 
 
 It so happened that a smaU Tibetan caravan of perhaps 
 a dozen pack mules had been brought to a standstill by the 
 approaching procession close to where Philip stood. The 
 drivers were for the most part typical specimens of the 
 muleteer class, with long, unkempt hair, sheepskin gar- 
 
 B 17 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 ments looped up by a belt at the waist, and cloth top-boots 
 soled with untaiined hide. This was, apparently, the 
 first visit of some of them to a Chinese town, and as they 
 drew their animals as close as possible to the sides of the 
 street, so as to leave plenty of room for the approaching 
 mandarin, their gaze was fixed in boundless admiration on 
 the imposing retinue which preceded him. Their leader, 
 the head muleteer, a fine fellow with a good-humoured 
 expression of countenance, had evidently been in Ta-chien-lu 
 before, and acted as cicerone to his fellows. 
 
 " See what fine clothes these Chinese servants have," 
 Philip heard him saying to them. " And what splendid 
 horses ! It would be hard to equal them even in Lhasa, 
 Here comes the mandarin's litter. Look ! Even the 
 Grand Lama's palanquin is not more gorgeous ! " 
 
 Philip was amused at the man's language, and glanced at 
 the cause of all the hubbub. Leaning back amongst the 
 cushions with a scowl upon his face sat the mandarin, who 
 was the central figure in this royal progress. The plain red 
 button in his cap told Philip that he belonged to the highest 
 order of mandarins, while the peacock's feather which he 
 wore showed that he had received a special token of the 
 Emperor's regard. Yet his face made it plain enough that 
 his high position had not been won by merit. The duU, 
 heavy eyes, the puffy cheeks, and sensuous mouth pointed 
 to the probability that his promotion, as is too frequently 
 the case in China, had been bought step by step with 
 money and not with honest work. 
 
 Philip was turning away with disgust from the contem- 
 plation of the mandarin's repulsive features, when the lash 
 of a whip aimed at a small child, who was obtruding too far 
 into the street, missed its object and fell with full force on 
 the flanks of the mule which was held by the leader of the 
 Tibetan caravan. In an instant the animal, a powerful, 
 
 i8 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Ul-tempered beast, began to plunge and kick, and, backing 
 out into the centre of the street in spite of all the efforts of 
 its driver, rattled its heels against the palanquin of the 
 mighty mandarin himself. This high official, his face be- 
 coming pale with fear, half rose in his seat, and seemed 
 about to get out on the further side, when his attendants 
 dragged away the offending mule, while the holders of the 
 whips lashed the driver unmercifully. 
 
 As soon as the mandarin felt sure that he was safe, he 
 stopped his bearers, in order to witness the beating of the 
 muleteer, by whose neghgence the accident was supposed 
 to have happened. 
 
 " Flog him well," he exclaimed, leaning out of his pal- 
 anquin, and watching the operation with evident enjoy- 
 ment. But the muleteer was so taken by surprise that 
 he did not utter i protest against the blows which were 
 rained upon him. Indeed, considering the thick sheepskin 
 coat he wore, it was doubtful if he felt them. The 
 mandarin, suspecting this to be the case, grew angry and 
 cried out — 
 
 " Strip him bare to the back, and beat him with the split 
 bamboo. I will teach these clumsy Tibetans to show more 
 respect to those who are in authority over them ! " 
 
 The man's sheepskin was instantly torn off his shoulders, 
 and bare to the waist he was thrown face foremost on the 
 ground, being held in that position till a man came up with 
 the split bamboo. The first stroke on the muleteer's bare 
 flesh laid open two parallel cuts across his shoulders, and 
 the second added another pair. But the third stroke never 
 took effect, for while the bamboo was still in mid-air the 
 striker was hurled backwards by a blow between the eyes 
 from Philip's fist. 
 
 For a brief space there fell upon the crowd an awed hush 
 at this public flouting of the mandarin's authority, and then 
 
 J9 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the Tibetan muleteers, realizing that a blow had been struck 
 on behalf of their comrade, raised a cry, and lifted him from 
 the ground, standing guard round him with threatenmg 
 looks towards his aggressors. The Chinese mandarin, 
 much incensed by the rescue of his victim, was on the point 
 of ordering his recipture, when he caught sight of the lower- 
 ing expression of his defenders. 
 
 " The man has had enough," he said to his attendants. 
 " He will not easily forget his lesson. The Tibetans are, 
 for the most part, a law-abiding people, and do not often 
 require chastisement. But it is a different matter when one 
 of my own race raises his hand against those in authority 
 over him. Was it not a Chinaman who struck the wielder 
 of the bamboo ? If so, let him be arrested." 
 
 Philip stood his ground, keeping his eyes on the unfor- 
 tunate attendants, who did not venture to approach him. 
 
 " Your Excellency's attendants seem to be in no hurry 
 to carry out their orders," the young man remarked, when 
 no one stirred. " But I must put Your Excellency right 
 on one point. As you no doubt now perceive, it was not a 
 Chinaman who struck your servant. Although for con- 
 venience I wear the national garb, I am an Englishman, ■ 
 and I defy you to arrest me ! " 
 
 , The mandarin flushed beneath his Scdlow skin, and his 
 dull eye burnt with rage. He would doubtless have per- 
 sisted in his order had not the Tibetan portion of the crowd 
 gathered round the Englishman, with looks which plainly 
 said he should not be taken without a struggle. The 
 mandarin was once more foiled. In a white heat, and 
 almost inarticulate with rage, he exclaimed — 
 
 " The Chinese are always courteous to foreigners, and a 
 mandarin should set an example to others in this respect. 
 In deference to the great nation to which you belong, I will 
 take no notice of your recent conduct, but I warn you that 
 
 2P 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 your actions may not always be so readily condoned," and 
 the mandarin, bidding his bearers move on, leant back 
 among the cushions with a look of sullen anger in his eyes. 
 
 Philip Harwood, in no way impressed by this speech, 
 was turning once more in the direction of the mission, when 
 the muleteer he had befriended placed himself in front of 
 him and made him a low obeisance. 
 
 " The peling " (foreigner) " has saved my life," the man 
 began in grateful accents. " These great mandarins often 
 flog a man to death, and no one is brave enough to inter- 
 fere. But in my case the peling has taken the risk, and he 
 may yet be made to suffer for it. How can I repay him ? " 
 
 " By resuming your journey and getting well as soon as 
 possible," answered Philip. " Your master must make 
 allowances for you, as with those wounds you will not be fit 
 for work for several days." 
 
 " I have no master ! " answered the Tibetan. " I was 
 engaged to bring this caravan to Ta-chien-lu, and as soon 
 as I have been paid for it I shall be free. Does the peling 
 want a muleteer ? " 
 
 Philip would certainly require muleteers. This fellow 
 was of rough exterior, but he looked an honest man and 
 spoke like one. 
 
 " Yes, I shall want some muleteers," said Philip. " Go 
 and settle with your present employer, and if by to-morrow 
 morning you are still of the same way of thinking, come to 
 the English mission at eight o'clock, and I will consider the 
 matter." 
 
 A gratified smile illumined the Tibetan's countenance, 
 and, bowing low once more, he answered — 
 
 " The peling will find that I do not so readily change my 
 mind, and will see me at the EngUsh mission at eight o'clock 
 to-morrow morning." 
 
 The midday meal was already prepared when Philip re- 
 
 2t 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 turned, and he sat down to his host's table with an excellent 
 appetite after his morning walk. Mr. Ransome told him 
 that, so far, he had been unable to procure a suitable 
 servant for him, but that he did not despair of doing so in 
 the course of a day or two. 
 
 " That reminds me," he continued. " At the last house 
 I visited with regard to the matter before returning home 
 I heard that there was another European in the town." 
 
 " Another European ! " repeated Philip, unpleasantly 
 surprised. " I hope he has not come on the same quest as 
 myself." 
 
 " I do not know his business. My informant, who came 
 into the house as I was about to leave it, said he had just 
 witnessed a most extraordinary scene, in which this Euro- 
 pean played a principal part." 
 
 Philip now understood who this other European must be, 
 but before enlightening his host, he wished to hear how the 
 affair was regarded by an inhabitant of the town. ..Ac- 
 cordingly he said — 
 
 " What was the scene to which the man referred ? " 
 
 " It appears that the Governor of the neighbouring pro- 
 vince of Yunnan, who is on a visit to the Governor of this 
 province, was passing through the town this morning, when 
 a restive mule nearly upset his palanquin. The unfortu- 
 nate man in charge of the mule was seized at once, and the 
 Governor of Yunnan, Tuen Fang by name, a very cruel 
 mandarin, ordered him to be flogged with a split bamboo. 
 After he had received a couple of strokes the European 
 interfered, knocking down the man with the bamboo. Of 
 course, Tuen Fang was in a great rage, and would have 
 arrested him if he had dared." 
 
 " And there the matter ended ? " queried Philip. 
 
 " For the time being, at any rate ; but if this European 
 proves to be an intending explorer of Tibet, you need not 
 
 23 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 fear him as a rival. He has spoilt his chances at the very 
 start." 
 
 Philip leant back in his chair with a smile, 
 
 " Let me know the worst, Mr. Ransome," he said, " for 
 I was the offending foreigner." 
 
 " You ! " exclaimed the missionary, dropping his knife 
 and fork and staring at Philip in amazement. " With your 
 knowledge of Chinese ways and habits, I could not have 
 believed that you would have been so foolish. Of course 
 I admire your courage in interfering in such a case, but it 
 does more credit to your heart than to your head ! " 
 
 " Why, what harm can come of it ? " 
 
 " Every kind of harm. It is lucky for you that Tuen 
 Fang is not the Chinese Amban (Ambassador) at Lhasa. If 
 he were, and he discovered you travelling in Tibet, there 
 would be little chance of your getting out of the country 
 alive." 
 
 "^till, I do not regret having acted as I did, and, after 
 all, Tuen Fang is not the Chinese Amban at Lhasa. Do 
 you know anything of his history ? " 
 
 " Only that he is reported to have wrung more money 
 from the people in the form of bribes, or by sheer extor- 
 tion, than any other mandarin in China. His avarice is 
 only equalled by his cruelty." 
 
 " Then, as you say, it is a good thing for me that he is 
 Governor of Yunnan instead of Chinese Amban at Lhasa. 
 Let us drink to his confusion ! " 
 
 It was impossible to quarrel with the young man's irre- 
 sponsible light-heartedness, and Mr. Ransome humoured 
 the toast which his guest proposed. Philip's spirits were 
 evidently proof against the apprehensions which the mis- 
 sionary entertained on his behalf. After all, there was not 
 much cause for alarm. They agreed that it would be best 
 for Philip not to ask for a passport into Tibet from the 
 
 23 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Chinese authorities, as it would almost certainly be refused, 
 and in any case would not be granted for places west of 
 Batang. Philip would have to travel as an Eastern 
 Mongol, this portion of the Mongolian race bearing the 
 most resemblance to Europeans. If arrested, it was very 
 improbable that news of it would reach the Governor of 
 Yunnan, or that, if it did, he would identify the suspect 
 with the man who had flouted his authority in Ta-chien-lu. 
 
 The following morning, as Philip and Mr, Ransome were 
 preparing to go out together and make purchases for the 
 approaching expedition, the mission servant announced 
 that there was some one at the door asking for the 
 " peling." 
 
 " Perhaps it is a message from my friend the Governor 
 of Yunnan," said Philip, with a laugh. " Are we to admit 
 the enemy, Mr. Ransome ? " 
 
 The missionary looked grave, but told his servant to 
 bring the man in. Instead, however, of an emissary from 
 the autocratic Tuen Fang, there appeared, cap in hand, a 
 poorly dressed Tibetan, whom Philip recognized at once as 
 his friend the muleteer. 
 
 " This is the man," he explained to Mr, Ransome, " who 
 was unfortunate enough to incur the mandarin's anger 
 yesterday. He asked me if I wanted a muleteer, and I told 
 him that he might call here to see me about it this morning. 
 The matter had escaped my memory. Well, my man," 
 he continued, addressing the Tibetan, " you are still, then, 
 of the same mind as yesterday ? " 
 
 " I am, Kushok ! " replied the man, with a profound 
 obeisance. " What I say one day I do not unsay the next. 
 If the Kushok is in need of a muleteer, I pray that he will 
 let me work for him." 
 
 " You have evidently made an impression on him," said 
 Mr. Ransome to Philip. " He has already conferred on 
 
 24 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 you a patent of nobility by addressing you as ' Kushok.' 
 Though rough-looking, I think that he would serve you 
 faithfully. I should engage him." 
 
 " What is your name ? " asked Philip. 
 
 " Mantso," replied the Tibetan. 
 
 " Well, Mantso, I require muleteers for the caravan 
 which I am taking into Tibet." 
 
 A pleased smile appeared on Mantso's good-natured 
 countenance. 
 
 " Then the Kushok will engage me, for no one knows my 
 native country better than I do. Where does the Kushok 
 wish to go ? " 
 
 " To Lhasa ! " 
 
 The Tibetan's jolly face assumed as grave a look as it 
 was capable of. 
 
 " It will be a difficult matter," he said. 
 
 " I shall travel as an Eastern Mongol, but of course I 
 may be stopped and denounced as a peling, while you ' 
 would be punished for bringing me into the country. Are 
 you prepared to undergo the risk ? " 
 
 " I will do anything to serve the Kushok." 
 
 Mantso was evidently sincere, and Philip no longer hesi- 
 tated about engaging him. The terms, so much per day, 
 were settled at once, and he was told to bring his personal 
 property round to the mission, where he would stay till the 
 caravan started. 
 
 " That man will make a good servant, I think," said 
 Mr. Ransome when Mantso had withdrawn. " He may 
 not be able to cook European dishes, but he is accustomed 
 to caravan work and inured to the rigours of the climate. 
 That is the kind of servant a traveller in Tibet requires." 
 
 25 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 NOW that a satisfactory servant had been obtained, 
 preparations for the journey went on apace. Philip 
 Harwood calculated that a dozen mules would carry all his 
 baggage, including tent furniture and ammunition for three 
 rifles. But in a country where travelling is beset with so 
 many difficulties as in Tibet, it is necessary to have a much 
 larger supply of animals than is actually required for the 
 loads, and Philip decided to take twenty-five. These he 
 purchased by twos and threes, so as not to raise the price 
 by trying to get all of them at once. The first three he 
 bought the day after engaging Mantso, and when they 
 arrived at the mission yard he found the muleteer criti- 
 cally examining the eyes, teeth, and legs of the animals. 
 
 " What do you think of them, Mantso ? " asked Philip, 
 rather proud of his purchases. 
 
 Mantso ran his eye over them once more. 
 
 " That one yonder, Kushok," he said, pointing to the 
 furthest one, " must be eighteen years old. It is six years 
 since I drove him last, and he did but little work then." 
 
 " Of course, I could see he was an old mule," rejoined 
 Philip, disillusioned by this candid criticism ; " but a 
 willing old mule is often better than a stubborn young one. 
 The other two are all right, at any rate." 
 
 " I know them both, Kushok. The mare in the middle 
 is so obstinate that if you give her only half the usual load 
 she will not stir. As for the third, he is young indeed, but 
 broken-winded, and we shall never get him up a mountain 
 
 26 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 pass. But they are all three worth keeping, for the Kushok, 
 of course, received them as presents." 
 
 Philip burst out laughing at Mantso's naive deduction. 
 
 " On the contrary, Mantso, I bought them. How much 
 do you think I paid for them ? " 
 
 Mantso scratched his head as he made a mental calcu- 
 lation. 
 
 " Perhaps the Kushok gave fifty rupees each for them ? " 
 
 " Can you buy them at that price ? " 
 
 " Not so cheap as that, Kushok ; but a good animal may 
 be got for eighty or a hundred rupees." 
 
 " You can purchase three for me at that price then, 
 Mantso." 
 
 The Tibetan muleteer was delighted with this com- 
 mission, and set off at once to the market-place. His 
 object in going there was not to buy mules, for he was ac- 
 quainted with cheaper and better depots for this purpose, 
 but he wished to discover the man who had taken advan- 
 tage of his master. On arriving at the quarter where the 
 mules were for sale, he made a short inspection and then 
 approached a Chinese dealer who had the largest selection, 
 and was on that account most likely to have obtained his 
 master's custom. 
 
 " You have some beautiful animals here," began Mantso, 
 noting at the same time that, though showy and well 
 groomed, they were of little value for hard work. 
 
 The Chinaman, who was seated on the ground smoking 
 a pipe, glanced up curiously, and seeing only a poor Tibetan 
 before him, who could not mean business, disdained to 
 ^ake reply. 
 
 '- " I suppose they cost much money," continued Mantso, 
 no whit repulsed by the Chinaman's silence. 
 
 " Much more than a half-starved, tsamba-eating Tibetan 
 could afford to pay ! " replied the dealer. 
 
 27 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " Ah, we poor Tibetans have no money, it is true, and 
 we are as stupid as oxen. It is you clever Chinese who 
 know how to get rich." 
 
 The Chinaman smiled graciously at this flattery, and 
 took a contented pull at his pipe, as if it was no fault of 
 his that he had been born so clever. 
 
 " Now, how much would that animal cost ? " asked 
 Mantso, pointing to the best mule of the lot. " Of course, 
 I cannot afford to buy it, but a Tibetan muleteer knows a 
 good animal when he sees it, and I am curious to hear the 
 price." 
 
 " That mule is worth two hundred rupees," replied the 
 Chinaman, taking his pipe out of his mouth for the first 
 time since Mantso had accosted him. 
 
 " Only two hundred rupees ! " exclaimed Mantso in well- 
 feigned astonishment. " I should have thought it would 
 have cost two hundred and fifty at least." 
 
 The dealer took a pull at his pipe. 
 
 " It is cheap, of course," he condescendingly admitted. 
 " But I am not the man to haggle over the trifling sum of 
 fifty rupees. There was a peling here this morning to 
 whom I sold three mules almost as good as that one, and 
 how much do you think he paid for them ? " 
 
 This was the precise piece of information which Mantso 
 desired to obtain, but no one would guess the fact from the 
 self-possessed way in which he answered — 
 
 " Well, they would be worth, of course, nearly two 
 hundred and fifty rupees apiece, but as you did not 
 haggle over the bargaiji he bought them perhaps for only 
 two hundred." 
 
 " I charged him no more than one hundred and fifty 
 rupees," replied the Chinaman, with a touch of regret in 
 his tone. 
 
 " That was little enough indeed. But what did the 
 
 28 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 peling look like ? Was he tall, wth brown eyes that 
 shone hke burnished steel ? " 
 
 "He was tall, and his eyes, now that I come to think of 
 it, resembled your description of them." 
 
 " Then it is my master. He wants three more mules, 
 and he has sent me to select the best I can f^nd. I shall 
 recommend this one we were talking about, but I want 
 two others." 
 
 The dealer laid down his pipe and jumped to his feet in 
 order to obtain Mantso's approval for the other two mules. 
 Although the roughly clad Tibetan had no money of his 
 own, it seemed that he could influence those who were 
 possessed of wealth, and he at once became a person of im- 
 portance in the Chinaman's eyes. 
 
 " Here are two mules which I can safely recommend 
 you," he said. " I bought them just after your master 
 was here this morning. This one is strong and can carry 
 a very heavy load. The other is of lighter build, and 
 would make a good saddle animal." 
 
 " They are both valuable beasts, I can see at a glance. 
 How much will you want for the three ? " 
 
 " I could not sell them for less than two hundred rupees 
 each." 
 
 " Is that the least you will take for them, and shall I be 
 unable to get them cheaper anywhere else ? " 
 
 The dealer for the first time had a suspicion that the 
 Tibetan knew more about mules than he seemed to, but 
 Mantso returned his critical glance with a look of such 
 abounding innocence that the man replied — 
 
 " Nowhere in Ta-chien-lu will you get mules like these 
 at so small a price." 
 
 " I am very grateful for all the information you have 
 given me," said Mantso, " and I shall let you know what 
 my master says. Farewell ! " 
 
 29 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 The muleteer turned back in the direction he had come, 
 but as soon as he was out of sight of the Chinese mule 
 dealer he made his way toward one of the largest caravan- 
 saries in the town. As it was at Ta-chien-lu that the goods 
 from Tibet were transferred from the back of Tibetan 
 animals to the shoulders of Chinese coolies, the numbers 
 of mules available for the return journey was usually con- 
 siderable. 
 
 The caravansary which Mantso first visited was one 
 where the richer class of travellers stayed. The mules here 
 had evidently been well fed and had carried light loads. 
 This was not a true test of an animal's capabilities, and the 
 muleteer went on to a caravansary used by those who tra- 
 velled not for pleasure, but for business. Here he met a 
 small Tibetan trader, for whom he had acted on previous 
 occasions as muleteer, and who had only reached Ta-chien- 
 lu the previous day. With the primitive socialism of 
 pastoral Tibet, where the poorest of a clan associates on 
 equal terms with its chief, the trader welcomed him as a 
 brother, and they sat down to tea together. 
 
 Like most Asiatics when intent on business, both Mantso 
 and his host began by studiously avoiding it and exchanged 
 gossip about their mutual friends and acquaintances. At 
 length, after swallowing the sixth cup of tea, the muleteer 
 said he must be going. The moment had come for the dis- 
 cussion of business, and the trader concluded that his guest 
 had come to ask for employment. If so, he would be glad 
 to have him, though it would not do to let the muleteer 
 think so. 
 
 " You are, then, remaining at Ta-chien-lu for the pre- 
 sent ? " the trader said. 
 
 " I don't yet know when we are to commence our journey." 
 
 The trader's countenance fell. It seemed that Mantso 
 was already engaged. 
 
 30 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " Is it a Lhasa merchant this time ? " he' asked. 
 
 " No ; he is an Eastern Mongol." 
 
 " The Mongols are mean fellows. I hope you will make 
 sure of your pay." 
 
 " I have no fears on that score. Indeed, my master is 
 so free with his money that he charged me to buy three 
 mules for him." 
 
 The trader had some mules for sale, as the goods with 
 which he was returning would not require as many animals 
 as the goods he brought from Tibet, 
 
 " Your master can take his choice of mine," he said, 
 pointing to his baggage mules. 
 
 Mantso cast a^' careless glance in their direction. 
 
 " They look worn out and good for nothing but the 
 crows." 
 
 " You know most of them, and have seen the loads they 
 can take." 
 
 " Yes, but you have overworked them this last journey; 
 My master will have nothing to do with broken-down 
 animals." 
 
 The trader knew that Mantso wished to buy, or he would 
 not take the trouble to decry them. 
 
 " He wUl find them reliable beasts," he answered. 
 
 " How much do you want for them ? " asked Mantso. 
 
 " One hundred and twenty rupees apiece." 
 
 " Not one of them is worth as much as sixty." 
 
 Each of them having stated his price, they commenced 
 the inevitable haggle for a mean, Mantso the while examin- 
 ing each animal in turn with the greatest minuteness. By 
 the time that he had mentally selected the three animals 
 which he thought to be the best, the price had reached 
 ninety-five rupees on the trader's part. A further reduc- 
 tion of five rupees was necessary before the exact mean 
 between the two outside prices had been reached. But the 
 
 31 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 seller would not give way, and Mantso, gravely bidding him 
 farewell, walked off towards the caravansary gates. He 
 had barely reached them before the trader came running 
 after him. 
 
 " It is well, Mantso. The mules shall be your master's 
 for ninety rupees each. To no other person would I have 
 sold them so cheap. But we are old friends, you and I, 
 and shall doubtless work together again at no distant time. 
 It is for this reason and no other I have consented to re- 
 duce the price so much." 
 
 Mantso hesitated. His pride as a bargainer urged him 
 to wait till next day to see if the trader would still further 
 abate the price. On the other hand, he longed to take 
 back to his master three mules which cost sixty rupees 
 apiece less than those he had bought himself. Accordingly 
 he said — 
 
 " As a proof of the esteem in which I hold you, I will 
 agree to the price you mention. Those are the three ani- 
 mals which I have chosen," he continued, pointing each 
 one out in turn. " Send a boy with me, and I will get you 
 the money before the sun goes down." 
 
 So much time had been spent in this transaction that it 
 was four o'clock before Mantso set out from the caravan- 
 sary with the three mules and the trader's boy. He went 
 a little out of his way so as to pass the Chinese mule dealer 
 in the market. As the muleteer walked some distance 
 ahead of his purchases, the Chinaman did not think they 
 belonged to him, and said — 
 
 " Well, has your master sent you for my mules ? " 
 
 " It is only a question of price," replied Mantso. " Is 
 two hundred rupees the lowest figure you can take ? " 
 
 " I could not sell them any cheaper," said the man. 
 
 " Then I bid you good day," answered Mantso. " I have 
 just bought three for ninety rupees each," and calling to 
 
 32 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the Tibetan boy to follow with the mules he marched off, 
 much pleased with his revenge on the Chinaman who had 
 taken advantage of his master. 
 
 On reaching the courtyard of the mission he brought 
 Philip out to inspect his purchases. The young man was 
 not favourably impressed by the animals, with their droop- 
 ing heads and ill-kept coats. 
 
 " I do not think much of your selection, Mantso," he said, 
 
 " But they are excellent animals, Kushok," the muleteer 
 protested. " I know each of them and the work he can do." 
 
 " They may have done good work in their time, but I 
 don't think they will do any more. How much are they ? " 
 
 " Ninety rupees apiece," replied Mantso, very proud of 
 his bargain. 
 
 Philip looked at them again, and then said — 
 
 " They are cheap enough, at any rate. I will take them 
 on your recommendation, and if they turn out badly it 
 will be your fault." 
 
 Philip Harwood's stay in Ta-chien-lu was now drawing 
 to a close. He had bought all his camp furniture and laid 
 in his provisions. In excess of what would be required for 
 consumption, he took a large quantity of brick tea, as 
 throughout Tibet there is a steady demand for it, and in 
 some parts it forms the only currency. For purposes of 
 exchange he also provided himself with a number of 
 Tibetan boots with cloth legs and raw-hide soles. Finally, 
 he took four oi" five dozen " khatas," or ceremonial scarves, 
 which are presented at every interview and sent with every 
 letter in Tibet. To omit them in these cases is to commit 
 a breach of good manners hardly excusable in the most 
 ignorant nomad of the Chang, 
 
 As for the baggage animals, the three mules which 
 Mantso bought picked up so rapidly, and gave promise of 
 such good work, that Philip commissioned him to buy the 
 
 c 33 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 remaining eighteen, a task which he performed to his 
 master's complete satisfaction. Owing to the number of 
 baggage animals being so much in excess of those required 
 for the baggage, the loads had to be made small, so as to 
 give each of them a share of work. In some instances, of 
 course, the articles could not be thus broken up, but on 
 the whole the loads were evenly distributed. Finally, it 
 only remained to engage the other muleteers. 
 
 " How many will you require, Mantso ? " Philip asked. 
 
 " Three men will suffice, Kushok." 
 
 " Do you think that you could get them ? " 
 
 Mantso's eyes glistened with pleasure at tjiis further 
 proof of his master's confidence in his judgment. 
 
 " Assuredly, Kushok," he answered. " When will you 
 want them ? " 
 
 " I start in two days. Let them come before sunset to- 
 morrow." 
 
 Mantso bowed with his accustomed profundity, and 
 hastened away at once upon his errand. But he did not 
 make his selection in haste, and returned that evening with 
 no report to make to his master. The following day, how- 
 ever, at sunset, the muleteer marched into the mission yard 
 with three men at his heels. Philip, who happened to be 
 there, regarded them with some astonishment, for they 
 looked almost as ill- kept as Mantso's mules. Tlie muleteer, 
 unabashed by their appearance, drew them up in a line 
 and bade them make obeisance, which they did in the 
 usual Tibetan fashion, with bowed backs, extended tongues, 
 and their long hair hanging down on either side of their 
 faces. When Mantso considered that this attitude of 
 humility had been sufificiently prolonged, he ordered them 
 to resume a vertical position and exclaimed — 
 
 " Come forward, Phendi ! " 
 
 The right-hand man advanced a step or two, and Mantso, 
 
 34 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 eyeing him from head to foot, as if he were running over 
 the good points of a mule, began — 
 
 " Phendi is a native of the central kingdom, and comes 
 from the same village as myself. He is strong of hmb 
 and endures fatigue well. You will find him a good 
 muleteer." 
 
 Phendi was a tall man of melancholy appearance, with a 
 long, thin face, the cheeks of which were furrowed with 
 deep lines from constant exposure to the dry, cold winds 
 of his native country. He attempted to accompany 
 Mantso's introduction of him with a smile, but beyond a 
 slight gleam in his hollow eyes and a deepening of the 
 wrinkles round his mouth no evidence of his sentiments 
 became apparent. 
 
 " Your countryman does not look very happy at the 
 prospect before him," said Philip. " I presume, how- 
 ever, that he knows his own mind. Who is the next 
 man ? " 
 
 Phendi had already retired, and a fat man with quick, 
 jerky action stepped forward in his place. 
 
 " This man's name is Esa," said Mantso. " He belongs 
 to the Drupa tribes who live in tents. A sojourn in Ta- 
 chien-lu has made him fat, but he will be thin enough after 
 he has been on march for two or three weeks." 
 
 Esa bowed and grinned with much animation, and Philip 
 thought that even if his fat remained he would, at any rate, 
 perform his work with cheerfulness. 
 
 The last to be introduced was in general appearance the 
 most presentable of the three, his features being more 
 regular and his dress less slovenly than either of the other 
 two. But he had a pair of shifty, restless eyes which 
 Philip did not like at all. Mantso seemed to divine his 
 master's thoughts, for he began in apologetic tones — 
 
 " This man, by name Jasi, is a half-caste Tibetan from 
 
 35 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Ladak. I have never travelled with him, but am told that 
 with a little supervision he makes a good muleteer." 
 
 Though far from liking the man's appearance, Philip had 
 seen enough of life to know the futility of relying on first 
 impressions, and he engaged all three men. They were 
 shown the mules and the baggage, and told to have the 
 animals loaded by dayhght the next morning. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 WHEN Philip rose at dawn the following day he found 
 the work of loading the animals all but completed. 
 Five mules had been reserved for himself aild his four men, 
 while Mr. Ransome's mule had also been saddled, as he 
 intended to ride a part of the way with his guest. 
 
 Having fortified himself against the fatigues of travel by 
 making a good breakfast, Philip gave the order for the 
 caravan to start. It was an interesting and at times di- 
 verting spectacle to watch. Phendi led the way on a mule 
 of such small proportions that its rider's legs almost reached 
 the ground. He held the reins in his left hand, while in the 
 right he carried a prayer wheel, which he rotated unceas- 
 ingly. With his long, unkempt hair, a far-away look in 
 his eyes, and his Tibetan sword hanging transversely across 
 the front of his body, he had the appearance of an Eastern 
 Knight of La Mancha setting out on his famous travels. 
 
 Half a dozen pack mules followed him, and then came 
 Esa, his ample proportions bulging out on either side far 
 beyond the slender frame of the animal he rode. Esa was 
 unable to twirl a prayer wheel, for under his right arm he 
 carried a pole some twelve feet long. Philip could not 
 understand what purpose this pole served, but learnt, on 
 asking Mantso, that it was a lance for self-protection if 
 attacked by robbers. Jasi carried no ostensible weapon, 
 but the handle of an ugly knife peeped out beneath the 
 folds of his garment. 
 
 As for Mantso, who brought up the rear, his desire to 
 
 37 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 maintain the gravity which became a chief muleteer con- 
 tended with the gaiety of spirits natural to a Tibetan, so 
 that only the thought of his responsible position prevented 
 him from bursting into song and laughter. Philip Harwood 
 and Mr. Ransome rode side by side not far behind him. It 
 was a lovely morning. The sun, rising in the east over the 
 flowery land of China on which they had turned their backs, 
 shone upon the snow-capped mountains of Tibet in front, 
 making them sparkle in its glorious light. Some twenty 
 years previously Mr. Ransome had set out on such a morn- 
 ing from Ta-chien-lu, with the object of reaching Lhasa, 
 and in spite of the ill-success which attended this effort 
 the missionary felt his blood stirred once more within him 
 by Philip's venture. 
 
 " If there was only some one who could take my place 
 in Ta-chien-lu," he exclaimed, " I should like to have made 
 in your company another attempt to gain the forbidden 
 city." 
 
 " It is not too late," said Philip. " You could send for 
 a substitute from one of your other stations." 
 
 Mr. Ransome shook his head. 
 
 " It would take six weeks or a couple of months to get 
 any one even from the nearest station, and I could not 
 leave the mission here unattended for that period." 
 
 If Mr. Ransoine had not been working alone in Ta- 
 chien-lu, Philip felt that he might perhaps have been able 
 to persuade him to make the journey. Although no longer 
 young, as testified by his iron-grey hair, the missionary had 
 led so wholesome a life that he would probably have borne 
 the fatigues of travel quite as well as his young friend. 
 But it was useless to speculate about what might have been, 
 and Philip made no further reference to the subject. 
 
 At length Mr. Ransome reined in his mule at a small 
 stream which ran across the road. 
 
 38 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " This little stream forms the boundary between China 
 and Tibet," he said. " I have passed it once each way, 
 but I will not cross again, unless I am called to take up my 
 residence in the country." 
 
 " If I ever get to Lhasa," replied Philip jestingly, " I will 
 see if I cannot persuade the authorities to give you an 
 invitation." 
 
 " I wiU take the will for the deed," replied the missionary. 
 " And now I must say good-bye. I can do no more than 
 wish you success, and pray God to watch over you in your 
 dangerous journey." 
 
 Philip bade adieu to his kind-hearted host with a feeling 
 of genuine regret, and watched his retreating figure, a 
 trifle less erect than usual, till he disappeared round a bend 
 in the road. Then, resolutely facing the task before him, 
 he plunged into the stream. A moment later he had 
 crossed the Rubicon and entered the confines of the for- 
 bidden land. 
 
 After some two hours' march the caravan began to 
 ascend a mountain pass. Under their light loads the ani- 
 mals made good progress, and clambered up the steep path 
 at almost the same rate as along the level ground. Indeed, 
 •the saddle mUles had more to carry than the pack mules, 
 and for this reason, as well as to give the men some exer- 
 cise, Philip ordered them to dismount, setting them the 
 example by doing so himself. 
 
 In accordance with this order, Phendi stepped off his 
 animal and strode up the hill without any change in his 
 abstracted expression. Jasi, too, seemed in no way in- 
 convenienced by the change in his method of progression ; 
 but Esa, who had armed himself agairst the cold of his 
 native country with several layers of clothes, besides carry- 
 ing a large assortment of household goods in the central 
 fold of his outer garment, soon began to puff and blow with 
 
 39 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the exertion. The sojourn in Ta-chien-lu had made him 
 fat and short of wind. In addition, his twelve-foot lance 
 proved a great embarrassment to him. He was constantly 
 running the point of it into the ground in front of him, or 
 hitting with the other end the head of the mule which 
 followed him. This mule would sometimes stop and back 
 in order to avoid the blow, thus communicating the dis- 
 turbance to the rest of the caravan, till poor Esa earned 
 the abuse of each of his fellow-muleteers in turn. 
 
 At length they reached the top of the pass, where stood 
 an " obo," or loose stone monument raised by grateful 
 travellers to the presiding deity of the mountain. Each 
 of the muleteers added a stone to the structure, and tied 
 " lung-ta," or " wind horses," to the poles erected round it. 
 These " lung-ta " were pieces of cotton or linen with the 
 Buddhist sacred formula, " Cm Mani padme hum," in- 
 scribed upon them. Kept in perpetual movement by the 
 wind, they performed the same functions as prayer wheels 
 turned by water, and were believed to accumulate merit 
 for the donor. Phendi, who found himself unprovided 
 with a legitimate " lung-ta," improvised a substitute by 
 tearing a strip of cloth off the edge of his garment. This 
 he attached to a pole with an air of quiet satisfaction, 
 knowing that although it lacked the mystic formula, the 
 wind horses of his companions, on which the words ap- 
 peared, would in a few weeks be no more legible than his 
 own. 
 
 Half-way down the descent, on the further side of the 
 pass, Philip halted the caravan in a grassy nook, with a 
 clear stream running by the side of it. The mules, with 
 their loads still on them, were allowed to graze or rest 
 according to their fancy, while the men prepared their mid- 
 day meal. Jasi collected " argol," or animal droppings, 
 rendered fit for fuel by the dry Tibetan air. Lighting the 
 
 40 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 fire with a tinder-box and slow match, he suspended the 
 kettle from a tripod he had already erected. Meanwhile 
 Esa pounded up with a stone on the top of a boulder a 
 piece of brick tea, the fragments of which he threw into the 
 kettle as soon as the water boiled. After letting it stand 
 for a few minutes, he poured the tea into a churn, added 
 butter, and set the churn in motion. 
 
 When the mixture in the churn began to thicken it was 
 considered ready for consumption, and the men sat down, 
 each of them producing a wooden cup from the folds of 
 his garment. The cup was filled from the churn and a bag 
 of " tsamba " handed round. " Tsamba " is the staple 
 article of diet in Tibet, being barley parched over a fire and 
 then ground. Each man took a handful of the meal and 
 added it to the churned tea, stirring the mixtmre with his 
 fingers till it became thick enough to roll into a ball. The 
 ball was then eaten, being washed down with fresh tea, on 
 the surface of which floated a piece of butter, together with 
 the broken twigs of which brick tea is chiefly composed. 
 This meal, as may be imagined, did not prove very attrac- 
 tive to Phihp, who was fortunately provided with food for 
 several days from Mr. Ransome's stores. 
 
 After two hours' rest the march was resumed. The 
 lower they descended the more beautiful the country be- 
 came. Crops of barley, with a few patches of wheat, had 
 ripened in the valley below. Thickets of wild gooseberry 
 lined the path, which soon grew into a wide track enclosed 
 by hedges, like an English country lane. The fields were 
 divided by similar hedges, or by wattle fences, or by post 
 and rails. Nothing he had seen in his journey through 
 China reminded Philip so much of home as his first intro- 
 duction to Eastern Tibet. Intoxicated with the keen 
 mountain air and with the delight experienced by all tra- 
 vellers at being once more on the move after a few days' 
 
 41 
 
A Wife jfrom the Forbidden Land 
 
 sojourn in one place, the young man became full of enthu- 
 siasm for his venture. The brook by the side of which he 
 now rode gurgled musically as it fell over the boulders in 
 its bed, whUe the jingling mule bells — every mule carries a 
 bell in Tibet — maintained a pleasant accompaniment to it. 
 Nowhere in the world could there be a more smiling, fertile 
 country than that which lay before him. Surely, thought 
 Philip, the dangers and discomforts of traveUing in Tibet 
 had been exaggerated by his predecessors. 
 
 That evening at sunset they arrived at a small village, 
 where PMlip intended to put up for the night. As he 
 entered it the place looked very deserted, though from a 
 distance he had seen a good many people moving about in 
 the main street. The young man knocked at three doors 
 in turn without receiving an answer, and then turned to 
 Mantso for an explanation. 
 
 " They are afraid of having to provide mules for your 
 caravan, Kushok," he said. " The Chinese always make 
 them furnish transport, and pay them nothing for it." 
 
 "But I, of course, am willing to pay," replied Philip. 
 " See if you can persuade any one to give us shelter for the 
 night." 
 
 Mantso jumped off his mule and knocked persistently at 
 the door of the nearest house, till a woman's voice re- 
 sponded — 
 
 " Cease knocking, or we will not unbolt. What is it 
 you want ? " 
 
 " Open, friend," said Mantso. " My master desires a 
 night's lodging." 
 
 " Let him go to some one who is rich enough to supply 
 his wants." 
 
 " My master is not a Chinaman, but an Eastern Mongol, 
 who will pay for all he has." 
 
 Philip could hear a whispered consultation, after which 
 
 42 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the bolts were withdrawn and a good-looking woman made 
 her appearance. 
 
 " Is this the Kushok ? " she asked MantsOj indicating 
 Philip with a motion of her head. 
 
 " Yes, sister," answered the muleteer. " We have tra- 
 velled far to-day, and shall be glad of food and rest. The 
 Kushok will repay you well." 
 
 The woman looked at Philip critically. Though not re- 
 sembling the ordinary type of Eastern Mongol, she saw, 
 at any rate, that he was not a Chinaman, and accordingly 
 replied — 
 
 " You are welcome, Kushok, to such poor food and 
 shelter as I can supply. Come in." 
 
 She led the way through the open door into a courtyard, 
 on one side of which stood the house. The ground-floor 
 consisted of stables, which together with the yard could 
 accommodate all Philip's animals. The staircase to a bal- 
 cony on a level with the first floor consisted of a stout beam 
 with holes in which to put the feet. The woman ascended 
 this beam with practised ease, and Philip followed her. 
 Crossing the balcony, they entered a fairly large room, the 
 ceiling of which was supported by beams. A stove was 
 burning at the further end of the room, but there was no 
 chimney, and the smoke escaped by an oblong hole in the 
 ceiling. A section of a tree did duty for a table, and a few 
 cushions served as chairs. Philip, being invited to take one 
 of the cushions, sat down and looked around him. The 
 occupants of the room consisted of a man lying on the floor 
 and smoking a pipe in front of the fire, an old woman 
 seated near him weaving cloth, a girl of twelve, and two 
 small boys with bright eyes and merry countenances. 
 
 " Is that your mother ? " inquired Philip of the woman 
 who had brought him in. 
 
 " Yes, she is my mother," the woman answered. 
 
 43 . 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " And that, no doubt, is your husband," continued Philip, 
 indicating the man with the pipe. 
 
 " He is one of them, Kushok." 
 
 Philip knew, of course,, that polygamy existed in Tibet, 
 and was interested by this first introduction to it. 
 
 " How many others are there then ? " 
 
 But this was a matter which concerned the man. Evi- 
 dently flattered by the curiosity which the visitor evinced 
 in his family affairs, the man took his pipe out of his mouth 
 and answered — 
 
 " Two more, Kushok. My two brothers ! " 
 
 " Where are they now ? " asked Philip. 
 
 " They are both away from home. One is doing some 
 work at Batang ; the other is on the road to Lhasa as 
 muleteer to a caravan." 
 
 " We Mongols, as you know," continued Philip, " have 
 a wife apiece, and could not be reconciled to the idea 
 of sharing her affection with others. Tell me, are not 
 your brothers jealous of you, when they are away from 
 home ? " 
 
 Both wife and husband laughed at this suggestion, and 
 even the old grandmother was observed to smile. 
 
 " They are no more jealous of me when I am at home," 
 answered the man, " than I am of them when they are at 
 home." 
 
 " And are you all three content to have no wife to your- 
 selves alone ? " 
 
 The man evidently thought that Philip had strange ways 
 of putting things. 
 
 " We each of us have a wife," he replied, " only she is 
 the same woman for the three. She works well for each 
 of us and is always cheerful. This would not be the case 
 if there were two other wives in the house for her to quarrel 
 with." 
 
 44 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " Your brothers might have houses of their own if they 
 had wives." 
 
 The man shook his head, as if he found it very hard to 
 make the Kushok imderstand. 
 
 " The piece of land we inherited from our father is not 
 large enough to be divided into three and keep three fami- 
 lies. Even now we have to go out and seek work elsewhere. 
 But when we are away we need have no anxiety about the 
 house, for one of us is always taking care of it." 
 
 From a practical point of view there seemed to be some- 
 thing in the man's argument. But how the woman re- 
 garded the matter was another question, and turning to 
 her Philip said — 
 
 " Are you quite content to have three masters instead 
 of one ? " 
 
 Again laughter convulsed the Tibetan household. 
 
 " There are no masters in this house, Kushok," the 
 woman answered. " I am mistress of the household, and 
 everything is entrusted to my sole charge. My husbands 
 do not hire themselves for any work, nor make any bargain 
 without first consulting me. Tibetan women work hard, 
 but they are better off than Chinese women. When a 
 Chinaman goes on a joturney he leaves his house defence- 
 less, and if he dies his wife becomes a widow. I am never 
 left unprotected by a husband, and with three of them 
 I should indeed be unlucky if I ever became a widow." 
 
 Thus it seemed that matters were arranged to the satis- 
 faction of all parties, and Philip had nothing more to say 
 on the subject. In fact, his attention was now drawn to 
 a matter which concerned him more immediately, namely, 
 the cooking of his dinner. The appetizing effects of Tibetan 
 air have been experienced by every traveller in that coun- 
 try, and Philip proved no exception to the rule. To judge 
 by the clumsy utensils used, the prospect of an inviting 
 
 45 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 dinner seemed somewhat remote, but nevertheless savoury 
 odours began to mingle with the pungent smell of the 
 burning fuel. 
 
 Meanwhile the grandmother plied her distaff industri- 
 ously, and kept a keen look out upon the movements of 
 her grandchildren. She was evidently the disciplinarian 
 of the household, and having had, no doubt, to manage 
 three or four husbands in her time, found the task of keep- 
 ing children in order a comparatively light one. The young 
 girl was made to wind yarn, and received a sharp rebuke 
 if her eyes wandered to the stranger and her work for one 
 instant ceased. The two young boys were being schooled 
 by the old lady, and had to repeat sentences from the 
 sacred book of Buddhism. As long as their grandmother's 
 eye was upon them they remained as demure as possible, 
 but if anything else attracted her attention they began 
 playing furtively with each other, or pulled the tail of her 
 favourite cat. 
 
 At length the dinner was cooked, and a boiled leg of 
 mutton brought to Philip on a wooden platter. With his 
 own knife and fork — for none were provided — he cut him- 
 self two large slices, and much surprised his hostess by re- 
 fusing to take any more. The grandmother next cut off, 
 with a knife which hung from her waist, a large piece for 
 herself and three smaller pieces for the children. When the 
 wife had taken her share the husband claimed the rest of 
 the joint himself, picking the bones with such completeness 
 that not a particle of flesh was left upon them. There is a 
 proverb in Tibet that you can tell a man of affairs by the 
 thorough way in which he picks a bone'. Judged by this 
 standard, the husband would have qualified for a very high 
 place in the administration of his native country. 
 
 At the conclusion of the meal Philip lit his pipe, and as 
 a cold wind blew in upon him from the open doorway he 
 
 46 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 moved to the unoccupied side of the fire. But he had no 
 sooner thrown himself upon the floor, with his feet resting 
 on a log which did duty for a fender, than the women folk 
 raised a loud scream, and the man jumped up and dragged 
 him away to the middle of the room. 
 
 " What is the matter ? " asked Philip, much surprised 
 by this treatment. 
 
 " You had taken the corner reserved for the household 
 god," replied the man. " I am afraid you have offended 
 him greatly." 
 
 Philip realized at once the mistake he had made. 
 
 " I owe your household god a thousand apologies," he 
 said. " I might have guessed that the place reserved for 
 him had it not been the custom in Mongolia to put the 
 opposite side of the fire at his disposal. Where is he to be 
 found in the daytime ? " 
 
 " He sits in the doorway as long as the sun is there ; 
 that is from eleven to four o'clock." 
 
 " You give him, of course, the choice of the best position 
 in the house. But how do you get in and out of the room 
 when he is there ? " 
 
 " We use that window." 
 
 The window indicated was merely an opening in the wall 
 on the same side as the door, though a good deal smaller. 
 
 " The smallness of the window must make it incon- 
 venient for you." 
 
 " It was worse before we made the window. Last year 
 my eldest daughter was married, and after the wedding 
 feast we found that, although the winter had not passed, 
 the deity had without any warning transferred his seat to 
 the open doorway. Of course, you know that a bride may 
 not pass when he is there." 
 
 " So you had to make the window before the bride could 
 get out ? " 
 
 47 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " No, that would have taken too much time, so we 
 moulded the image of a horse in dough, and after placing 
 tea and beer beside it, entreated the deity to go for a ride. 
 He granted our prayer, and my daughter passed safely out 
 of the house. After that I began to make the window." 
 
 Philip produced some money from his pocket. 
 
 " In order to appease your household god," he said, " I 
 will give six rupees for a lama to come and pray to him 
 to-morrow. As for to-night, I will make him an offering 
 in wine." 
 
 The family received this announcement with much satis- 
 faction, hoping to help the deity consume his wine. Philip 
 had brought a dozen bottles from Mr. Ransome's cellar, 
 and sent Mantso for a couple of them. When they arrived 
 a small vessel of the liquid was placed on the side of the 
 fire which the household god occupied, and then the wooden 
 cups of the three adult Tibetans — the children had been 
 sent to bed — ^were filled. The wine had an exhilarating 
 effect. The wife began to sing Tibetan airs, and proved 
 that she had a very pretty voice. The proceedings termin- 
 ated by Philip singing the English National Anthem, which 
 he had learnt, he said, from the " pelings." The Tibetans 
 regarded his performance with a puzzled expression, and 
 were only restrained from giving vent to their habitual 
 merriment by a feeling of respect for a man who was so 
 lavish with his money and who carried about with him such 
 excellent wines. 
 
 48 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 IN spite of the smoky atmosphere of his apartment — for 
 the family had retired to an adjoining chamber, leaving 
 him in possession of the living-room — Philip Harwood slept 
 soundly till roused by the housewife, who, according to the 
 national habit, was astir at four o'clock. The young man, 
 however, was not sorry to be up at that hom:. In Eastern 
 Tibet it is advisable to commence the day's march early in 
 the morning, for at noon the rays of the sun in the clear, 
 dry atmosphere are very powerfial. Breakfast accordingly 
 was served to the light of pine splinters and butter lamps, 
 the latter being practically candles, for the low temperature 
 made the butter as hard as wax. The smell of burnt grease 
 which these lamps gave forth, mingled with the smoke from 
 the fire and the pungent fumes of the pine splinters, might 
 have affected a more squeamish appetite, but Philip made a 
 capital breakfast. By daylight the meal was concluded, 
 and the animals loaded ready to start. 
 
 The entire household, with the exception of the man, 
 who they said was indisposed, descended into the yard to 
 see the caravan depart. The housewife's face beamed with 
 a happy smUe, induced by the liberal pay she had received 
 for Philip's lodging ; nor had the grandmother and children 
 been forgotten by him. Philip was just at the point of 
 starting when the husband appeared on the balcony and 
 began to descend the tree-trunk ladder. On reaching the 
 ground, he approached Philip and asked him if he could 
 give him any medicine for a headache. 
 
 D 49 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 The young Englishman, before leaving Shanghai, had 
 realized how useful a little medical knowledge is to a tra- 
 veller, both to maintain his own health and to prescribe 
 ■for those in need of medical advice. With this object in 
 view, he had studied with an English doctor and attended 
 the Shanghai hospital. He thus acquired a fair knowledge 
 of the use of ordinary drugs, and had brought a box of them 
 with him. The present case was an easy one to diagnose, 
 and after feeling the patient's pulse and looking at his 
 tongue Philip came to the conclusion that the debauch of 
 the previous evening was the cause of the mischief. Mantso 
 was told to bring the medicine chest, from which his master 
 drew forth a bottle of magnesia. The blue colour of this 
 bottle elicited a murmur of admiration from the family 
 group, as well as from the muleteers, who gathered round 
 to watch the proceeding. 
 
 " Fill your tsamba bowl half full with cold water," said 
 Philip. The man drew a long face, for Tibetans believe 
 that cold water is injurious to the health. 
 
 " Will not hot water do ? " he asked. 
 
 " No ; the water must be cold." 
 
 The wife put an end to the discussion by taking her 
 husband's tsamba cup and filling it half fuU with cold 
 water as desired. 
 
 " Now, you must drink the medicine directly I hand it 
 to you. Are you ready ? " 
 
 The man nodded, and Philip emptied a small quantity 
 of the magnesia into the cup, stirring it round with the 
 handle of his riding whip. When ready, he gave it to the 
 patient, who, though evidently alarmed by the efferves- 
 cence, resolutely swallowed it. The onlookers gave a shout' 
 of laughter at the man's expression when he took the cup 
 from his lips. 
 
 " What was it like ? '' demanded his wife. 
 
 50 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " I could not tell you," he replied, wiping away the water 
 it had brought to his eyes. " I only know that the Kushok 
 bewitched the cold water with the handle of his whip, so 
 that as it went down my throat it boiled." 
 
 Another burst of merriment greeted these words, the 
 children clapping their hands in keen enjoyment of their 
 father's perplexity. PhiUp hastily packed the bottle of 
 magnesia and gave the order to start before the spec- 
 tators should begin to clamour for a taste of the magic 
 water. 
 
 Travelling along the Lhasa road in Eastern Tibet con- 
 sists in climbing over a series of mountain ridges lying 
 parallel to each other, like the furrows in a ploughed field. 
 As the villages are situated, for the most part, in the val- 
 leys, an ascent has usually to be made on leaving them. 
 The scenery during the next few days resembled alternately 
 Switzerland and England. The pine woods, the ravines, 
 and foaming torrents of the former were to be found on 
 the flanks of the mountains ; whilst in the vaUeys could be 
 seen the green grass, the corn, and the hedges which form 
 the familiar features of an English landscape. The grass, 
 however, was of that rich variety that only grows in coun- 
 tries where the soil is covered for four or five months in the 
 year with snow. Amongst the trees there were numerous 
 hoUy oaks, often mistaken for the giant holly, and Phihp 
 passed large plantations of apricot trees. The fruit was 
 just ripe, and men were busy gathering it. 
 
 " What do you do with all this fruit ? " the young 
 Englishman asked one of the workers. 
 
 " It is dried in the sun and stored for winter." 
 
 " But I notice that you pick the rotten fruit as well as 
 the fresh, though you will not be able to preserve it." 
 
 " No ; but from the stones we crush oil for cooking and 
 for lamps." 
 
 SI 
 
A Wife from the F'orbidden Land 
 
 It was clear that Tibetans wasted nothing of the scanty 
 products of their land. 
 
 In one of the villages through which Philip passed the 
 wheat harvest was in full operation. The mode of reaping 
 followed was the primitive one of pulling up the wheat by 
 the roots and tying it in bundles. This method naturally 
 involved much labour, and the lamas had turned out in 
 large numbers to assist the laymen. But the help they 
 rendered was more spiritual than material, and consisted 
 in sitting comfortably round the edge of the field twirling 
 their prayer wheels and exhorting their brethren to per- 
 severe in their labours. 
 
 Baggage animals carried the bundles of com into the 
 village, where it was trodden out in the various courtyards 
 by eight or ten oxen walking round in a circle. The mix- 
 ture of gi'ain and chaff Which resulted from this process was 
 carried up to the house-tops. Here women threw it up by 
 handfuls into the air, the strong wind carrying off the chaff, 
 while the grain collected on the roof. In the glorious rays 
 of the setting sun it seemed as if a golden rain were falUng 
 on the village street. 
 
 As the caravan ascended towards the lofty tableland of 
 Central Tibet the land became more barren, and the spaces 
 available for cultivation smaller. So as not to encroach 
 upon these spaces with buildings of any kind, the houses 
 of a village were raised one above the other on the face of 
 a cliff, with the result that many of them could only be 
 reached by a ladder from the roof of the house beneath. 
 The labour of climbing up to these eagle nests when carry- 
 ing a sack of tsamba or a pail of water was very consider- 
 able. Yet Tibetan women perfornied the ascent thus laden 
 a dozen times a day, and not only suffered no ill effects, but 
 always seemed to be merry and cheerful. The fact that 
 such heavy work could be borne by them without any 
 
 52 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 injury was a proof of the invigorating influence of the 
 climate of Tibet. 
 
 For eight or ten days Philip Harwood made regular and 
 fairly long marches without losing a single baggage animal. 
 It was instructive to observe how the best mules, like the 
 best men, when no artificial restrictions are put upon their 
 labour, worked their way to the head of the caravan. The 
 leading mule occupies an arduous and dangerous post. A 
 great deal depends on his sagacity. He not only makes 
 the pace, but he has to find for himself the best path 
 over an awkward place. As a reward for his toil and 
 his intelUgence he is given the heaviest load of the 
 whole caravan, so as to test the weight- carrying capacity 
 of the rotten wooden bridges which aboxmd in this part 
 of Tibet. 
 
 In some of the ravines the path consisted of nothing 
 more than a few planks supported by horizontal beams 
 driven into the face of the cliff. On reaching these narrow 
 passages the muleteers kept up a continuous shouting, to 
 warn travellers approaching from the opposite direction to 
 halt, as one mule could not pass another in them. 
 
 Philip was one day traversing a defile of this character, 
 and had just left behind him a length of wooden scaffold- 
 ing, when a large stone came thundering down over the 
 head of the mule immediately in front of the one he rode. 
 The first mule stopped suddenly, and in spite of repeated 
 blows from PhUip's riding-whip, began to back against his 
 own mule. The latter could not back in turn, as the suc- 
 ceeding animals had closed up to him. The frightened 
 mule hugged the face of the cliff, and pushed Philip's mule 
 towards the brink of the precipice. The animal was power- 
 less against the leverage thus obtained, and Philip, feeling 
 that the beast could no longer keep his footing, jumped off 
 just in time to save himself. There was a hurried scuffling 
 
 S3 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 of feet, a crash of hillside shrubs, and the rumble of the 
 falhng mule. Then all was still. 
 
 PhiUp, who had in the meantime seized the bridle of the 
 animal which had done the mischief, looked down the 
 abyss, and thought he could distinguish the form of his 
 mule on the bank of the foaming stream beneath. The 
 animal, he concluded, must have been killed, but the saddle 
 was a greater loss than the mule, as it could not be replaced. 
 For this reason Philip decided to try and recover it, and, 
 in spite of the protests of Mantso, who warned him he was 
 risking his life, began to descend the cliff. 
 
 By means of the bushes and projecting rocks, the young 
 man succeeded, notwithstanding the difficulties of the 
 descent, in reaching the bottom in safety. To his surprise, 
 he found the mule alive, quietly grazing the scanty grass at 
 the edge of the stream. It was plain that the animal could 
 not return the way he came, even if Philip himself succeeded 
 in doing so. Yet the young man was loath to abandon a 
 serviceable beast, and determined to make it swim down 
 stream till a point was reached from which the path could 
 be regained. Accordingly he remounted the animal, 
 turned his head towards the torrent, and clapped the spurs 
 into his side. The mule reared up, and, after a momentary 
 hesitation, plunged headlong into the stream. 
 
 The shock of the ice-cold water coming from the snow- 
 clad heights was very severe, and Philip became too 
 numbed to steer a course. He had no recollection after- 
 wards of the way in which he made the passage. It seemed 
 a phantasmagoria of whirUng waters, and giant boulders 
 springing up suddenly in the centre of the torrent and 
 hurling themselves headlong at him. The distance down 
 stream to the more level ground was covered in an extra- 
 ordinarily short space of time, and then Philip found him- 
 self on firm land again, with a shivering mule beneath him, 
 
 54 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 and surrounded by his four astonished muleteers. Neither 
 rider nor animal appeared, on examination, to have sus- 
 tained any more injury than a few cuts, and the journey 
 was resumed in a pleasant valley, where a powerful sun 
 soon dried Philip's clothes upon his back. 
 
 The fifteenth day out from Ta-chien-lu arrived, and 
 Philip hoped to reach Batang that evening. The march 
 would be a long one, and the caravan started early, so as to 
 gain their destination in the daylight. They halted for 
 their midday meal on the further side of the final pass, and 
 on resuming the march came to a point where the road 
 forked in two different directions. Mantso, after a mo- 
 ment's hesitation, selected the road to the right, but Philip 
 thought it looked less worn than the other, and called the 
 muleteer's attention to the fact. 
 
 " But see, Kushok," the man replied, " here are recent 
 droppings from pack animals^so it is plainly the main road." 
 
 PhiUp acquiesced in the decision of his guide, and they 
 entered the road, which became more rough and narrow 
 the further they went. At length a sudden turn displayed 
 to their view at the distance of some two hundred yards 
 another caravan, which had apparently just come to a halt. 
 No sooner, however, did the men of this caravan perceive 
 the new-comers, than they hastily threw their loose baggage 
 on their yaks and drove them up a narrow ravine. 
 
 " They take us for chukpas ! " said Mantso with a grin. 
 
 Phihp had been warned to be on his guard against 
 brigands, or " chukpas," as they are called, but he had 
 hardly expected to be mistaken for a chukpa himself. 
 
 " Get out a couple of rifles, Mantso," he said. " We 
 must be prepared in case they attack us." 
 
 Although Philip had brought three rifles with him, he 
 had instructed Mantso alone in the use of them, so that the 
 third one could not be used on the present occasion. The 
 
 i5 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 mule which carried the rifles and the ammunition always 
 marched near to the leader of the caravan, and the weapons 
 were quickly procured. Philip told Mantso to bring up the 
 rear of the caravan, while he himself would remain at the 
 head. The other three men, disposed at equal distances 
 along the line, were ordered to dismount and lead their 
 mules. Phendi drew his Tibetan sword with no change of 
 expression in his melancholy countenance at the prospect 
 of a fight. Esa was visibly alarmed, and handled his lance 
 nervously, while his eye sought the ravine down which the 
 strangers had disappeared. As for Jasi, it was impossible 
 to tell, from his shifty, uncertain look, in what light he re- 
 garded the situation. He obeyed, indeed, the instructions 
 to dismount, but he kept his only weapon, the murderous 
 knife, in its sheath. 
 
 Philip, who had dismounted like the rest, was now ap- 
 proaching the mouth of the ravine, where, at a distance of 
 barely eighty yards, three men became visible, the muzzles 
 of their matchlocks resting on the forked antelope horns 
 used for that purpose. Higher up the. ravine stood the 
 baggage animals and their drivers. As Philip drew near he 
 saw the three men ignite the slow matches which were to 
 discharge their weapons. No time should be lost if a 
 needless conflict was to be avoided. Walking straight 
 towards them with his rifle on his shoulder, he raised his 
 hand and cried — 
 
 " We are travellers and not chukpas. Put out your 
 slow matches, if you do not wish us to return your fire." 
 
 Whether his action in walking so fearlessly towards 
 them convinced them of his sincerity, or whether they 
 recognized the European repeating-rifle which he carried, 
 and knew that their weapons were useless against it, PhiUp 
 could not say. The result, at any rate, w.as that they re- 
 moved their slow matches and awaited his approach. 
 
 S6 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " Whither are you bound, brother ? " asked the centre 
 one of the three men — a short, pleasant-featured Tibetan. 
 
 " I am bound for Batang," cinswered PhiUp, careful not 
 to mention any destination beyond it. 
 
 " Batang ? " repeated the man in evident surprise, and 
 with a sidelong glance at his companions, " but this is not 
 the way to Batang." 
 
 " Then my guide, as I thought, must have made a mis- 
 take. We ought, I suppose, to have taken the road to the 
 left, but he saw traces of a caravan having just passed to 
 the right, and. that decided his choice. It must have been 
 your caravan that led us to take the wrong tm^ning." 
 
 The stranger smiled. 
 
 " That is the last thing which we wished to do," he re- 
 plied. " When we caught sight of you in the distance we 
 took you for chukpas, and, although we were bound for 
 Batangf we turned down this road, in the hopes you would 
 pass on without discovering us. But now that you have 
 overtaken us and are going to the same place as ourselves, 
 let us travel in each other's company. Two caravans are 
 safer than one." 
 
 There was no reason why the man's proposal should not 
 be -accepted, especially as he .would be able to prevent 
 Mantso from making any further mistakes about the road. 
 Matters were soon arranged, and Phihp and his new ac- 
 quaintance rode off at the head of the combined caravans. 
 
 " I wish my journey ended, like yours, at Batang," said 
 Philip's companion. 
 
 " Have you much further to go ? " asked Philip. 
 
 " A long way, for I am going to Lhasa." 
 
 The mention of the goal which he himself had in view 
 made Philip thoughtful. Could this man, he wondered, 
 help him to achieve his object ? 
 
 " I am an Eastern Mongol," he said at length, " and am 
 
 57 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 travelling with the view of acquiring business clients in 
 Tibet. Batang was the original limit of my journey, but if 
 I saw any prospect of opening up a trade with Lhasa, I 
 should hke to go there." 
 
 " There is plenty of trade to be done with Lhasa. I am 
 a Lhasa merchant, myself. You ought certainly to go 
 there. We will travel together. I see you have one of 
 those strange guns which ignite without a slow match, and 
 can fire six or seven shots without reloading." 
 
 The Tibetan merchant made no attempt to conceal the 
 reason he had for desiring Philip's company. The young 
 man determined to make the most of his opportunity. 
 
 " Yes, it is a wonderful gun," he said, " and will kill a 
 man three li " (i.e. a mile) " away." 
 
 " Three li distant ? It seems impossible. With that 
 weapon to defend you, a chukpa could never come near 
 enough to do any harm. I should much like to travel to 
 Lhasa in your company." 
 
 The man's candour was amusing, but Philip hoped to 
 make use of his dread of the chukpas, and replied — 
 
 " I have no passport from Batang to the sacred city, 
 but if we joined caravans, as you suggest, there would be 
 no need for me to have one." 
 
 " That is true," replied the Tibetan, delighted to find 
 that the young stranger had a selfish reason for being willing 
 to accompany him. " As a Tibetan, I can travel wherever 
 I like in my own country, and no questions are asked with 
 regard to those who compose my caravan. I could call you 
 master of it, if inquiries were made. My name is Piurdung." 
 
 " And mine is Khangsar," replied Philip, on the spur of 
 the moment. 
 
 The compact was made forthwith, and the young 
 Englishman became more hopeful of accomplishing his 
 object than he had ever been before. The only risk now 
 
 58 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 was that Purdung might discover his nationality, and refuse 
 to travel with him in view of the penalty he would incur for 
 bringing a " peling " into Lhasa. There were, however, 
 several points in Philip's favour. European types were 
 comparatively common in Central Asia, especially amongst 
 the Eastern Mongols. Philip had dark eyes, and exposure 
 to all weathers had tanned his skin as brown as that of a 
 native of the soil. Moreover, he spoke Tibetan so well 
 that no one would suspect him from his accent of being a 
 European. 
 
 Purdung proved a very pleasant companion. He pos- 
 sessed the Tibetan cheerfulness of disposition, and Philip 
 had reason to congratulate himself on the chance encounter 
 of the afternoon. As part of Purdung's caravan, he would 
 not be exposed to the inquisition of the Chinese officials at 
 Batang, who would otherwise have wanted to see his pass- 
 port, and to be informed of his next destination. The 
 lamas, too, having no reason to suspect his nationality 
 when in the caravan of one of their countrymen, would not 
 prevent him from penetrating any fwther into Tibet. 
 Everything seemed to be going well with him, and it was 
 with high hopes that he entered Batang and put up with 
 Purdung at the principal inn in the town. 
 
 59 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 ALTHOUGH Purdung proved an admirable companion 
 /\. in many ways, there was one respect in which Philip 
 Harwood found it hard to bear with him, namely, his 
 Asiatic disregard for the value of time. On the day follow- 
 ing their entry into Batang the Lhasa merchant announced 
 his intention of remaining there five days. The journey 
 before him would prove long and tedious. He had com- 
 fortable quarters now, and he meant to make the most of 
 them. What difference could five days make in a journey 
 of two or three months ? 
 
 In spite, however, of his chafing against the enforced 
 delay, Philip found much to interest him in Batang. This 
 town marked the point where the temporal rule of the 
 Dalai Lama began, and the Tibetans showed themselves 
 already more independent in their attitude towards the 
 Chinese officials put in authority over them. Although 
 the Chinese governor had a garrison at his command, the 
 inhabitants paid but little attention to him. It is true 
 that very few of the soldiers were arrned, and that one 
 could only tell a warrior from a civilian by the fact that he 
 was the more timid and helpless of the two. Moreover, as 
 the governor received no salary, he recouped himself by 
 reducing the garrison by one-half of its nominal size. Of 
 course, in case of trouble, he could always obtain the re- 
 quisite troops from. China, though the laiowledge of this 
 fact was not sufficient to obtain for him the respect of those 
 over whom he was supposed to rule. 
 
 60 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 For other reasons than his desire to be moving, Philip 
 Harwood was glad when his sojourn at Batang came to an 
 end. A muleteer on the journey does hot require much 
 supervision, but it is a different matter when he is cooped 
 up in town with nothing to do. Mantso, of course, was 
 fairly well occupied in waiting on his master, and attending 
 to the mules. Phendi, too, found occupation with the 
 animals, and beyond looking a trifle more melancholy, 
 seemed to smoke his pipe in silent submission to the fate 
 which kept him idle in the yard of an inn. But Esa was of 
 a less phlegmatic disposition. He liked good cheer, and 
 would sit surrounded with kindred spirits drinking chang 
 and singing songs far into the night. He also began to put 
 on flesh again, thus losing the training he had acquired on 
 the journey from Ta-chien-lu. 
 
 As for Jasi, though there was little in his conduct to 
 which exception could be taken, Philip never felt perfect 
 confidence in him. The ladaki did not drink, nor behave 
 himself riotously, but there was always something mys- 
 terious about his movements. He would be absent from 
 the iim for hours together, and if, on returning, he hap- 
 pened to meet his master, he would slip past him furtively, 
 as if he half expected a rebuke. The young man would 
 almost rather have seen him drunk than moving about in 
 this covert manner. 
 
 But the day of departure arrived at length, and troubles 
 of this kind were done with for the time. The difficulties, 
 however, of travelling in Tibet began to appear in unmistak- 
 able form. Though the harvest had only just been gathered 
 in, the first snowfall of the winter season occurred. The 
 powerful rays of the sun, it is true, made all traces of it 
 disappear by midday, but the country was evidently be- 
 coming more barren and inhospitable. Towards sunset, 
 after a tedious march, Philip and Purdung came to a halt 
 
 6i 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 near a nomad encampment, for they would pass no village, 
 nor even a solitary house where they could shelter, for the 
 next six days. 
 
 The black tents of the nomads squatted like huge spiders 
 on the plain, their watch-dogs baying loudly as the strange 
 caravan approached, and straining at the leashes which 
 bound them to the tent pegs. Philip was surprised at the 
 speed with which Purdung had his tent erected, and a 
 stove burning brightly in the centre of it. As in Tibetan 
 houses, there was no chimney to carry off the smoke, but a 
 rectangular opening in the centre of the flat roof prevented 
 the fumes from becoming unbearable. 
 
 Purdung invited Philip into his tent, and while he was 
 there, the chief of the nomad camp came to pay a formal 
 visit. He was accompanied by six of the leading men, all of 
 whom followed him into the tent. They formed a curious 
 assembly, with their long sheepskin garments hitched up by 
 a girdle at the waist and hanging in a large fold all round 
 below it ; their top-boots, with woollen uppers and raw- 
 hide soles, and their tangled, greasy locks. Not being able 
 to afford shades for his eyes against the glare of the sun and 
 snow, the nomadic Tibetan lets his hair grow long and pulls 
 it over his eyes when travelling. Not one of the seven men 
 retained a full set of teeth, and several of them, though 
 barely middle-aged, had only two or three teeth left. The 
 Tibetans say that the piercing winds of their country are 
 the cause of this deficiency, but a wind that will blow the 
 teeth out of your mouth is a little too strong for general 
 credence, and the real explanation is the constant use of 
 soft food which requires no mastication, so that the teeth, 
 having no hard work, get loose and fall out. 
 
 At the tent door stood a group of the humbler members 
 of the tribe, and with the fitful light of the pine splinters 
 playing on their dishevelled locks and weather-worn faces, 
 
 62 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 they formed a picture which Philip could not easily forget. 
 Tea, of course, was provided for all, even those at the door 
 pulling their wooden cups out of the folds of their garments 
 for a share in the national beverage. Tsamba and butter 
 were also handed round, each man helping himself to the 
 latter with his fijigers, and applying any remnant that ad- 
 hered to them either to his hair or to his boots, according to 
 which end of him stood most in need of it. Nothing, how- 
 ever, could exceed the good-nature of these simple nomads, 
 and they laughed and joked with as light hearts as if their 
 existence were the most enjoyable that could possibly fall 
 to the lot of man. 
 
 The chief explained that they had just taken up their 
 winter quarters on the present spot, having come from the 
 higher country which had to be traversed on the way to 
 Lhasa. He warned Purdung that the road was very heavy, 
 snow having faUen during the last three days of his march. 
 Travelling in Tibet at any season of the year has its own 
 disadvantages. If in summer, the rivers are swollen with 
 melted snow, and all but impossible. In winter fallen 
 snow impedes progress, and biting winds cause the most 
 intense discomfort. 
 
 The following morning Philip rose at dawn and found 
 the nomads already at work, collecting argol or grinding 
 tsamba, some of the latter, in spite of the low temperature, 
 having their right arm and shoulder bare. For convenience 
 of travelling, the nomad's day clothes must also serve the 
 piurpose of bed-clothes, and what is not warm enough; at 
 night with 20° of- frost, is much too hot at noon with the 
 thermometer 60° or 70° in the shade. Consequently, 
 when working in the daytime the nomads slip their right 
 arms out of their sheepskin coats, or even bare themselves 
 to the waist. At night they loosen the girdle and let the 
 garment fall to its full length to cover their feet, or else 
 
 63 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 they strip altogether, and, Ipng on felt, put their clothes 
 on the top of them. 
 
 When the caravan started, two or three of the nomads' 
 dogs, which had managed to get loose, came yelping at the 
 heels of the animals. To any one unacquainted with his 
 character, the Tibetan mastiff, which sometimes attains 
 the size of a small donkey, is a terrif5dng object, with his 
 loud bark and shaggy muzzle. But his bite is not as bad 
 as his bark, and the skilful use of a thick stick soon sends 
 him howling back to his master. 
 
 Philip had now to experience his first formidable moun- 
 tain pass. The ascent commenced from the camp itself. 
 Over the snow which covered the ground Philip's mules 
 did not make such good progress as the yaks which com- 
 posed the majority of Purdung's baggage animals. A 
 biting wind blew in the teeth of the travellers, cutting the 
 face like the lash of a whip. The dazzling rays of the sun 
 reflected from the snow inflamed and almost blinded the 
 eyes. Purdung had hoped to get over the pass that day, 
 but it soon became evident that they could not do it. The 
 mules staggered beneath their loads, and had to halt every 
 now and again to get their breath in the rarefied atmos- 
 phere. It seemed to Philip, who had dismounted, as if 
 leaden weights were attached to his legs. The mal de 
 monfagne gave him much- the same sensations as mal de 
 mer. He felt sick and giddy, with such a helpless lack of 
 energy, that he could not walk without holding on to his 
 animal's tail. 
 
 " It is the poisonous fumes arising from the ground that 
 make you ill, Kushok," said Mantso, in accordance with 
 the Tibetan superstition. " Eating onions is the best 
 remedy." 
 
 Mantso had been chewing onions from the time the ascent 
 commenced, and if one could judge by his appearance, for 
 
 64 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 he looked as cheerful as ever, they had the desired effect. 
 Philip tried the remedy, but derived no benefit from it. 
 Matters grew worse as the day declined. The pack mules 
 blundered hopelessly upwards, falling frequently with their 
 loads. The muleteers found great dif&culty in getting 
 them on their legs again. One of them could not be made 
 to stir, in spite of the blows that were rained upon him, and 
 lay panting on the ground till Mantso drew his knife, and 
 before Philip understood what he intended doing, had sHt 
 both the animal's nostrils. Strange to say, this drastic 
 remedy seemed to have the desired effect. The mule, 
 breathing more easily, struggled to its feet, and performed 
 the rest of the journey with less signs of distress. 
 
 Towards sunset it became evident that the top of the 
 pass could not be reached that day. Six hundred feet still 
 remained to be climbed, and the animals were worn out 
 with fatigue. Even the hardy muleteers had become ex- 
 hausted, and after struggUng to assist a fallen mule on to 
 its legs again, would throw themselves flat upon the ground, 
 in which position they found it easier to recover their 
 breath. When the sun went down all intention of con- 
 tinuing the march was finally abandoned, and the caravan 
 was compelled to encamp on a spot exposed to the full force 
 of the wind. Worse still, argols could not be found in 
 sufficient quantities to make a good fire. The wretched 
 men burrowed beneath the snow in the fading light, and 
 only managed to collect a scanty store. With this they 
 attempted to make tea, but at that altitude thfe water 
 boiled at so low a temperature that no essence could be 
 extracted from the leaves, while the tepid mixture froze as 
 soon as it was transferred to a bowl. Owing to the hardness 
 of the ground and the strength of the wind, it was found im- 
 possible to pitch a tent. With the thermometer standing 
 at 30° below freezing point, Philip threw himself down 
 
 E 65 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 supperless behind the shelter of a boulder, and tried to 
 compose himself to sleep beneath the angry sky. 
 
 It may be imagined that the members of the caravan 
 obtained little rest that night, and that, as soon as dawn 
 broke, they were all anxious to leave such a miserable 
 camping ground. Philip had always insisted, contrary to 
 the Tibetan custom, on tmloading the pack animals every 
 night. On this occasion, however, he had allowed them to 
 remain loaded, and it was fortunate that he did so, for the 
 men with their numbed hands and stiffened limbs would 
 have spent two or three hours replacing the packs. As 
 matters stood, they resumed their march at six o'clock, 
 and reached the top of the pass at nine. For the first time 
 Philip understood the sentiment which prompted the 
 Tibetans to record their gratitude to the deity of the pass, 
 when the summit had been gained. 
 
 But their troubles were not over yet. On the further 
 side lay a plateau which was but little lower than the top 
 of the pass. The scene was one of typical Tibetan desola- 
 tion. Not a single tree nor blade of grass was visible, huge 
 blocks of granite alone breaking the dull uniformity of the 
 barren waste. The only sign of life was a young eagle, 
 which came flying towards the caravan from the further 
 and comparatively sheltered side of the pass. Philip 
 watched its flight with curiosity, as it attempted to breast 
 the icy wind which caught it at the summit of the mountain. 
 The struggle was a brief one. The wind seemed to wither 
 the young bird like the blast of a fiery furnace, its wings 
 lost the power of sustaining it, and it fell lifeless at Philip's 
 feet. 
 
 The storm-clouds, which from the valleys looked so high 
 in the heavens, swept over the face of the plateau as if it 
 were in reality the roof of the world. In the rarefied at- 
 mosphere of the great altitude which they had reached 
 
 66 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 sound travdled with great difficulty. The ticking of a 
 watch could not be heard unless pressed against the ear. 
 If a mule stumbled over a stone no sound came from the 
 scuffling feet. Mantso's usually penetrating voice was in- 
 audible at a few yards' distance, and though his lips moved, 
 no words proceeded from them. The place possessed all 
 the haunting unreality of an oppressive dream. 
 
 The toU in baggage animals which this plateau had taken 
 from caravans which had passed that way was very great. 
 In one part the skeletons lay in such quantities as to re- 
 semble a cemetery in which the bodies were exhumed. 
 Purdung's yaks, inured to the freezing temperature of their 
 present elevation, stood the test well, but Philip's mules 
 fared badly. He had been unable to bring away any 
 provender from Batang for them, and they could not eat 
 the scanty grass, which grew here and there beneath the 
 protection of a granite boulder. This grass becomes so 
 stiff in the dry wind of Tibet that it has been known to 
 pierce a camel's foot. It is not surprising that Philip's 
 mules refused to touch it, and that two of them died on this 
 plateau from sheer exhaustion. 
 
 Happily, towards four o'clock, the descent to a less in- 
 hospitable region began, and at sunset they reached a 
 sheltered camping ground, with a stream of fresh water 
 and a good supply of argols. The tents were soon erected, 
 good fires lighted, and hot tea infused life into the ex- 
 hausted members of the caravan. Philip made a hearty 
 meal from Tibetan fare, and then smoked his pipe in front 
 of the camp fire. Before he withdrew to his tent, Mantso 
 approached. him and said — 
 
 " We must tether the mules close to the tent to-night, 
 Kushok. This is the district where the wild men are found, 
 who kMl the baggage animals afld sometimes the members 
 of a caravan." 
 
 67 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Philip had heard tales of these wild men, but was in- 
 clined to be incredulous with regard to their existence. 
 
 " Have you ever seen one, Mantso ? " he asked. 
 
 " Only once, Kushok, though I have known many 
 animals to be killed by them." 
 
 " What was he like ? " 
 
 " He was some distance from me, but I noticed that 
 he wore no clothes, and had long hair, and a clumsy 
 walk." 
 
 Philip could make nothing out of this vague description, 
 and merely telhng Mantso to call him if a wild man at- 
 tacked the animals, turned into his tent. 
 
 Mantso soon had an opportunity of obeying this order, 
 and roused his master at dawn the following morning with 
 the news that a wild man had killed one of the mules, and, 
 being disturbed, had only just made off. Philip jumped 
 up and accompanied Mantso to the slaughtered animal. 
 It had evidently broken its tether, for it lay some little dis- 
 tance from the camp with a large gash in its throat. 
 
 " Which way did the wild man go ? " asked Philip. 
 
 Mantso pointed to the road by which they had reached 
 their present camp, and on it could be seen an upright 
 figure moving clumsily along at a distance of three hundred 
 yards. For a moment the young man was in doubt, and 
 then the figure turned its head, and displayed to view the 
 pointed muzzle of a bear. 
 
 " That is only a bear, Mantso," he said. 
 
 " I don't know what is the proper name, Kushok," re- 
 plied Mantso, " nor have I ever seen them close, for it is 
 wiser to run away. But that figure yonder walks upright 
 like a man, and our name of ' wild man ' is the best that 
 we could give it." 
 
 Philip's first impulse was to get'^his rifle and go in pursuit 
 of the beast, but reahzing that it might be a long business, 
 
 68 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 and interfere with the day's march, he thought it better to 
 give up the project. 
 
 Just as they were starting Purdung came up to Phihp 
 and informed him that the district on which they were now 
 entering was infested with robbers, and that he had heard 
 they were already hovering round the caravan. He ad- 
 vised Philip to be fully prepared, and to carry his rifle 
 ready loaded for immediate use. Accordingly, the young 
 man, though somewhat sceptical about the presence of 
 robbers, slung the weapon over his shoulder. 
 
 However, whilst crossing an open plain about an hour 
 after starting, half a dozen horsemen appeared on the right 
 of their path, and rode along parallel to it at a distance of 
 some four hundred yards, evidently watching the caravan. 
 Purdung declared -that they were chukpas, and recom- 
 mended returning to the camp they had just left, where 
 they would be able to fortify themselves. But Philip re- 
 fused to be intimidated by six horsemen, who might be just 
 as much afraid of Purdung's caravan as Purdung was of 
 them. Accordingly the march was continued, and at noon 
 they halted for their midday meal. The six horsemen, see- 
 ing them stop, drew nearer, but when Philip and Mantso 
 rode out to meet them they turned and trotted off. 
 
 " I do not think those fellows will trouble us much," 
 said Philip, as he sat down to his meal in Purdung's tent. 
 " If two of us can frighten them away, they are not likely 
 to attack the whole caravan." 
 
 Purdung shook his head lugubriously. 
 
 " They have only gone away to get reinforcements," he 
 answered. "I know them too well. We have not seen 
 the last of them yet." 
 
 The march was resumed at two o'clock, and until five 
 no other human beings came into sight. At that hour, 
 however, the six horsemen whom they had seen in the 
 
 69 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 morning reappeared, followed at a short interval by a 
 dozen more. 
 
 " What did I tell you ? " said Purdung to Philip in dole- 
 ful tones. 
 
 " They have done as you said," replied Philip, " but even 
 with their increased numbers I shall be surprised if they 
 have the courage to attack us." 
 
 At this moment one of Purdung's men came up and 
 pointed to another body of perhaps twenty horsemen on 
 the side of the road opposite to that on which the eighteen 
 had just appeared. There seemed to be little doubt now 
 that the two parties were acting in concert with the object 
 of robbing the caravan. Purdung was much alarmed. 
 
 " Why did we venture through this district with so small 
 a caravan ? " he said. " I have never travelled here before 
 with a party of less than one hundred men. We are now 
 at the mercy of these chukpas, and even your wonderful 
 gun will not serve you against such numbers. What is to 
 be done ? " 
 
 The situation certainly looked more serious. At the 
 distance of a couple of miles the road entered a deep defile. 
 The chukpas would probably attack them while passing 
 through it. Philip made up his mind at once. 
 
 " We must pitch our tents where we are," he said. 
 
 " But there is no shelter here," protested Purdung. " It 
 would be better to enter the defile while we yet have time, 
 and find a nook where we can protect our baggage animals." 
 
 " I can protect them better in the open plain," replied 
 Philip, " for my gun carries further than the weapons of the 
 chukpas. In a narrow defile, where they could shelter 
 behind rocks, I should be at a disadvantage." 
 
 Purdung reluctantly agreed to Philip's proposal, and a 
 halt was called. The two parties of the chukpas also halted 
 and seemed to discuss among themselves the new situation. 
 
 70 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Apparently they decided not to attack, and as the sun 
 declined they rode off in opposite directions and dis- 
 appeared. 
 
 This action put neither Philip nor Purdung off their 
 guard, and they arranged a strict watch for the night. Pur- 
 dung, who had half a dozen Tibetan mastiffs, tethered them 
 in a circle round the camp. Philip's four muleteers 
 mounted guard two by two in turn. The young man him- 
 self kept on the alert, visiting the pickets now and then 
 to make sure they were awake. But when midnight came, 
 and no alarm had been raised, he concluded that the chijk- 
 pas did not intend to return, and prepared to turn in. 
 
 As, however, he proceeded to his tent, a peculiar sound, 
 like the cry of some wild animal, caught his ear. One ot 
 the watch-dogs at once gave tongue, and the others took 
 up the cry. Philip, whilst passing Purdung's tent, at the 
 entrance to which its owner stood, asked what animal it 
 was which had set the dogs barking. 
 
 " It was no animal, but the c^y of the chukpas," Purdung 
 answered. " They make that cry to see if our mastiffs are 
 on the alert. Now that the dogs have replied, they will not 
 dare to make an attack. I shall take some rest, and I 
 advise you to do the same." 
 
 As Purdung felt no uneasiness, Philip had no occasion to 
 do so, and, following the Tibetan trader's example, he re- 
 tired to his tent to get some sleep. 
 
 71 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 WHEN morning broke the chukpas were nowhere to 
 be seen, but on going beyond the area guarded by 
 the dogs Philip found tracks such as would be left by a 
 man crawhng on his hands and knees. These must have 
 been made by the chukpas, though they had not ventured 
 within fifty yards of the dogs. Purdung, who accom- 
 panied Philip, seemed reUeved by the latter fact, and began 
 to hope they would give no further trouble. 
 
 Half an hour after starting, the caravan reached the en- 
 trance to the defile. The path was steep and the banks on 
 either side were strewn with boulders, which would afford 
 excellent cover to a determined enemy. Though Philip 
 did not credit the chukpas with courage to attack the cara- 
 van, he took the precaution of marching at the head of it 
 himself. More than half of it had been traversed, when the 
 young man fancied he saw a figure move behind one of the 
 boulders, at the same time a musk deer made its appearance 
 on a projecting rock some three hundred yards ahead. If 
 the chukpas were in hiding, it would be well to let them see 
 the range of his gun. Accordingly Philip took a steady 
 aim at the deer, and the report of his rifle was followed by 
 the animal faUing headlong over the rocks on to the path 
 below. Almost immediately a number of men emerged 
 from behind the boulders on either side, and, scrambUng up 
 the banks, disappeared at the top. A man who could shoot 
 a deer at that distance was not the kind of antagonist the 
 chukpas wished to meet. 
 
 Purdung was delighted at the ease with which the 
 
 72 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 robbers had been put to flight, and his former high spirits 
 returned. With the aid of this Eastern Mongol and his 
 wonderful gun, he now had no doubt that he would reach 
 Lhasa in safety. The chukpas, in truth, did not make 
 their reappearance, but other troubles, inseparable from 
 travel in Tibet, attacked the caravan. In the first place, 
 the keen winds cut PhiUp's skin till it was raw, and the glare 
 of the sun set up inflammation in his eyes. Purdung 
 recommended butter, the Tibetan panacea for every ill, but 
 PhiUp had recourse, with good effect, to the vaseline he 
 carried in his medicine chest. As for his eyes, a horse-hair 
 shade in the form of a fringe protected them sufficiently to 
 prevent any further suffering on that score. Another 
 source of trouble arose from the presence of wolves in the 
 district through which they passed. In spite of tethering 
 the baggage animals close to the tents at night-time, the 
 wolves managed to pass through the cordon of watch-dogs, 
 and killed three of Philip's mules. The muleteers on 
 guard — Esa and Jasi — relying on the mastiffs, had evi- 
 dently fallen asleep. Philip rated them soundly, and bade 
 them be more careful in future. Esa received the rebuke 
 with penitence, but a lowering look could be seen in Jasi's 
 eyes, in spite of his air of submission. 
 
 Three days later they reached a village called Namcho, 
 where the shelter of an inn was very welcome after the 
 severe weather experienced in their recent marches. Both 
 men and animals sorely wanted a rest. Half of Philip's 
 baggage mules had been lost in accidents, had succumbed 
 to hard work, or fallen a prey to wild beasts. As Philip 
 heard that the Lhasa road after leaving Namcho became 
 more suitable, on account of its roughness, to yaks than to 
 mules, he took the opportunity of exchanging his baggage 
 animals for the favourite beast of burden in Tibet. 
 
 On the strength of Purdung's report that the lamas of 
 
 73 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Namcho were apt to deal very harshly with strangers, 
 Philip kept to the inn during the two days they were 
 to stay in the village. On the morning of the third day, 
 however, the Tibetan trader announced that he could not 
 start till the morrow, and the young Englishman, tiring of 
 his enforced seclusion, went out into the village. A little 
 further down in the main street he found a crowd collected 
 round the door of a house. Glad to find something that 
 would divert attention from himself, he approached the 
 crowd to see what was going on. The house round which 
 they were gathered appeared to be an inn, and through the 
 open doorway he caught sight of a group of gesticulating 
 lamas. On making inquiry from a bystander, he heard that 
 a Chinese mandarin of high position who had taken lodgings 
 in the inn was discussing with the lamas theamount of "ula," 
 or free transport, which should be furnished by the village 
 to take him and his baggage to the next stopping place on 
 the road to Lhasa. Having been unable' to come to an 
 agreement, they had referred the matter to the " Deba," 
 or Tibetan chief of the district, who lived some little dis- 
 tance from Namcho, and whose arrival they now awaited. 
 At this moment the sound of an approaching cavalcade 
 could be heard, and there swept into the narrow street of 
 the village a brilliant troop of horsemen. The leader, who 
 rode a fine white animal, wore a dark brown satin garment 
 lined with Siberian fox-skin, and a yeUow satin cap faced 
 with sable. The clothes of his retinue displa57ed an equal 
 profusion of colour, though the material was not so rich. 
 Having never seen a Tibetan of the upper classes, PhOip 
 was much struck by this man's appearance. His fellow- 
 countrymen were considered to be the poorest and most 
 barbarous of any of the old-world nations. Yet this man, 
 with his sumptuous dress and his long hair falling in curls 
 upon his shoulders, carried himself with the well-bred air 
 
 74 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 of a cavalier of King Charles the First's Court. It was not 
 however the Deba's general appearance, but the expression 
 of his countenance, which made the greatest impression upon 
 Philip. There was a look of capacity and determination in 
 his face which would have made him remarkable even 
 amongst the governing classes of the leading European 
 nations. Where could he find a field for the exercise of 
 his talents in a country which was subject to the yoke of 
 the decrepit Chinese Empire ? 
 
 But the lamas now came pouring out of the inn to wel- 
 come the ruler of the district, who received their homage 
 with easy dignity as nothing but his due, and still remained 
 on horseback. His object was clear. He did not wish to 
 show deference to the Chinese representa.tive by hastening 
 to dismount and pay his respects to him, preferring that 
 the mandarin should come to the door himself to greet him. 
 The struggle for a victory on this point of etiquette was 
 soon decided. The Chinese mandarin realized that he 
 must give way, and rising with an ill grace went to the door 
 to welcome the Deba. 
 
 Philip recognized him as soon as he made his appear- 
 ance. It was Tuen Fang, the mandarin whom he had defied 
 in the streets of Ta-chien-lu. The young man concealed 
 himself from view, and asked his previous informant if 
 Tuen Fang was merely going on a visit to Lhasa. The man 
 looked at him in some surprise. 
 
 " Have you not heard ? " he answered. " This man- 
 darin has been appointed the Senior Amban at Lhasa 1 " 
 
 It was an unwelcome piece of news for Philip. As 
 Senior Amban, or Chinese Ambassador at Lhasa, Tuen 
 Fang would hold a powerful position in the city. If the 
 young man succeeded in getting there, and happened to be 
 recognized by the amban, his situation would be a perilous 
 one. Mr. Ransome's warning might be justified after all. 
 
 75 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 But Philip's thoughts were soon diverted to what was 
 going on before him. As soon as the Deba saw Tuen Fang at 
 the door he leapt lightly off his horse, and taking a " khata," 
 or " scarf of greeting," which one of his retainers held ready 
 for him, he presented it to the amban. The latter made 
 an effort to accept it with good grace, and said — 
 
 " Welcome, Deba ! Enter, and let us discuss this matter 
 quietly within." 
 
 " Nay," replied the Deba in clear, decisive tones. " We 
 will settle it here in the presence of the lamas and in- 
 habitants of this village, so that they may learn the de- 
 mands which the Chinese Amban makes upon them. What 
 ' ula ' do you ask ? " 
 
 Tuen Fang's complexion turned to a deep shade of yellow 
 and his dull eyes burnt angrily. If he only had two or three 
 score Pekin soldiers armed with European rifles, he would 
 soon teach these insolent Eastern Tibetans better manners. 
 As, however, the small Chinese garrison in Namcho did 
 not possess a single firearm he was entirely at their mercy. 
 
 " Chinese mandarins are not in the habit of discussing 
 their affairs in the presence of an ignorant public," he 
 answered. " But as you Tibetan noblemen hold other 
 views, I am willing to act in accordance with them. It is 
 only a trifling matter after all. I shall want sixty baggage 
 animals." 
 
 " That is somewhat in excess of the number usually re- 
 quired by a mandarin when entering our country. We 
 have a saying that he comes into Tibet with one suit of 
 clothes and leaves it with a caravan of a thousand yaks." 
 
 A tinge of warm colour appeared in the mandarin's 
 yellow face. 
 
 " The fact remains that I am entitled to sixty baggage 
 animals or their equivalent in money. With which do you 
 intend to furnish me ? " 
 
 76 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " You certainly will not get the money, and as for the 
 animals there are not as many as sixty in the village. The 
 heavy exactions of you Chinese mandarins as you pass to 
 and fro is depopulating the country. Look at the empty 
 houses in this street. The ' ula ' has ruined the occupants 
 and they have been obliged to go elsewhere. At this rate you 
 will soon empty all the villages on the high road to Lhasa, 
 But you will not get anything from my district for which 
 you do not pay, even if you bring your line soldiers from 
 Pekin to coUect it. We are a free people here, and it is 
 better to be killed outright than to die of slow starvation." 
 
 The conclusion of this speech was greeted with loud ap- 
 plause by the Tibetan crowd. Tuen Fang was visibly 
 alarmed, and his Chinese retinue shrank back as though in 
 expectation of an attack. The mandarin saw that it would 
 be best to change his tone at once. 
 
 " The Chinese Government has no wish to be oppressive 
 in its deahngs with Tibet. If the ' ula ' is depopulating the 
 country to such an extent, some change rtiust be made in 
 the law respecting it. Meanwhile, as you assure me that 
 this village in particular is suffering from the custom, I will 
 waive my right to claim three score baggage animals. I 
 will ask for no more than just sufficient to carry my baggage, 
 and I will pay for them at the current rate." 
 
 The Deba refrained from smiling at this sudden volte- 
 face. " I am glad to hear you say so, mandarin," he an- 
 swered. " Let me know the number you require, and you 
 Shall have them to-morrow morning. I have the honour 
 to bid you good day." 
 
 In accordance with Tibetan custom, Tuen Fang presented 
 the Deba with a khata in return for the one he had received, 
 and then the latter mounted his horse and, accompanied 
 by his retinue, rode off amidst the cheers of the crowd. 
 
 Philip saw that it was time for him to go if he was 
 
 77 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 anxious not to attract attention, and passing down the 
 street he entered the open country beyond. A short dis- 
 tance from the village stood a large lamasery built of stone 
 on the face of a cliff. Slipping by it as quickly as he could, 
 .he came to a fertile and weU-tilled valley. The autumn 
 still lingered here, though on the high tableland, which he 
 had lately traversed, winter had already appeared. 
 
 Tempted by the pleasant country to go further than he 
 meant, it was some two hours later when he once more 
 approached the village. A mule stood at the monastery 
 gates, and as Philip drew near to them a man came out, 
 mounted the animal, and rode briskly off towards the vil- 
 lage. The mule bore a strong resemblance to Mantso's 
 saddle-mule, though the rider, from the distant view which 
 Philip had of him, reminded him more of Jasi than of 
 Mantso. Yet it could not, of course, be Jasi, for what 
 would he want at the monastery, and how did he come by 
 Mantso's mule ? 
 
 On reaching the inn Philip went to the part of the yard 
 where his saddle-mules were stationed. There stood 
 Mantso's animal quietly munching hay. His breathing 
 seemed regular, and his back showed no recent traces of a 
 saddle. Yet the animal at the lamasery gates was very 
 like this one. Philip decided to question Mantso about the 
 matter. In answer to his master's summons Mantso issued 
 from the inn. 
 
 " Where are the men ? " asked Philip. 
 
 " They were all here a little while ago, Kushok, except 
 Esa," Mantso replied. " Esa has relations in the village 
 and has gone to see them. But the other two are here," 
 and he called Phendi by name. No one answered, and 
 Mantso continued — 
 
 " Then Phendi must have gone out too, but one of them 
 of course remained to look after the mules. Jasi ! Jasi ! " 
 
 78 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 A sleepy voice replied to the second call, and a bundle 
 of clothes, rising up from a distant corner of the yard, 
 approached them. 
 
 " How long have you been here ? " asked Philip. 
 
 " How long ? " repeated Jasi, as if endeavouring to col- 
 lect his thoughts. " Why, I have been here ever since the 
 Kushok went out." 
 
 If the man was acting, he acted very well. 
 
 " Have any of my mules been, taken out of the yard 
 to-day ? " 
 
 " No, for we have kept a watch upon them." 
 
 " Even when you were asleep ? " 
 
 " I thought Phendi was on watch as well, or I should 
 not have gone to sleep. But the Kushok will not punish 
 me for that ? " 
 
 There was nothing further to be said. As none of the 
 men seemed to have been in the yard witli Jasi, it was im- 
 possible to prove if he were telUng the truth or not. After 
 all, even supposing he had taken the mule, no very serious 
 offence had been committed. He might have had a friend 
 or relation at the monastery, and selected the best animal 
 in the caravan to take him there. 
 
 The following morning at daybreak Philip was in the 
 yard superintending the preparations for departure, when 
 six lamas made their appearance and asked for Purdung. 
 On hearing that he was within, they entered the house in 
 search of him. The young man thought no more about the 
 matter, and was busy with the loading of the animals when 
 Purdung and the lamas issued from the inn. The Tibetan 
 trader showed some embarrassment, and warned Philip 
 with a look to be on his guard. 
 
 " This is the man Khangsar," he began aloud, indicating 
 Philip. "He is an Eastern Mongol, and manages the 
 caravan." 
 
 79 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 The lamas looked at Philip closely. Exposure had 
 tanned his skin ; his clothes were such as Mongols wore, 
 and even his features were of a mould not unknown in 
 Mongolia. Still they were not satisfied, and their leader, 
 a man of capable and determined physiognomy, said— J- 
 
 " Where is his passport ? " 
 
 This was the question which Philip had feared. He did 
 not attempt to answer it himself, but Purdung, forcing a 
 laugh, replied — 
 
 " As a member of my caravan he needs no passport. 
 When did you begin requiring a passport for every mule- 
 teer ? " 
 
 " But this man had a caravan of his own when he entered 
 the country." 
 
 Purdung was struck dumb. The lamas knew everything, 
 and it would be useless to try and brazen the matter 
 out. Feeling that nothing he could say would remove 
 their suspicions, he left Philip the task of exonerating 
 himself. 
 
 " I have told you all I know," he answered. " If you 
 want any further information, you had better ask Khangsar 
 himself." 
 
 The lama turned to Philip and demanded his passport. 
 
 " I have no passport, and this is the first time I have 
 been asked for it." 
 
 "That is because you pretended to belong to this mer- 
 chant's caravan." 
 
 Philip wondered how they found out that he did not 
 belong to it. Speculation on the point, however, was idle, 
 and he continued — 
 
 " If a passport is necessary I could no doubt obtain one 
 from the Deba of the district." 
 
 But the suspicions of the lamas were fully aroused, and 
 their spokesman replied— 
 
 80 • 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " The Deba has no power to grant you a passport. You 
 must return the way you came." 
 
 This was a pretty ending to PhiHp's plans, whiqh, since 
 he had joined Purdung's caravan, seemed in a fair way to- 
 wards accomplishment. The thought stung him so acutely 
 that he felt an impulse towards defiance. With his three 
 repeating rifles all the matchlocks in the district could not 
 stop him. But the young man reahzed at once that such 
 action would only render failure more certain in the end. 
 Swallowing his disappointment as best he could, he an- 
 swered — 
 
 " As I cannot get a passport, I suppose I must return. 
 But when I get to my own district, where I have some little 
 influence, I shall know what account to give of Tibet to 
 those of my countrymen who might think of visiting it." ■ 
 
 The lamas smiled at this threat, which Philip had uttered 
 more because he thought it in keeping with the part he 
 played than from any expectation of its efficacy. Eastern 
 Tibetans have a contempt for Mongols, and do not care in 
 what Mght the latter may regard their country. Having 
 accomplished their object, the lamas prepared to depart, 
 their leader sajdng as he went, " In three days' time, at the 
 latest, you must set out on your return." 
 
 " I shall leave before then," replied Philip. 
 
 As soon as the lamas had gone, however, Purdung broke 
 out into loud lamentations. How with his small caravan 
 could he ever hope to reach Lhasa /in safety, now that his 
 good friend Khangsar of the quick-firing gun was not 
 allowed to accompany him ? The lamas were worthless 
 busybodies who were always interfering in matters with 
 which they had nothing to do. How did it concern them 
 whether an Eastern Mongol had a passport or not ? If the 
 ofiicious Chinese authorities had raised an objection there 
 would have been less occasion for surprise. But it was too 
 
 F 8i 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 bad of the lamas to break up the caravan of one of their 
 own countrymen merely because a member of it did not 
 possess a passport. Why should they not insist on travel- 
 ling together, and see if the lamas dared to separate them 
 by force ? 
 
 To Philip, in his present angry mood, the suggestion was 
 a tempting one, but he soon saw that it would only be 
 putting off the evil day. With their rapid means of inter- 
 communication the lamas would doubtless warn the vil- 
 lages through which the caravan would have to pass, and 
 the opposition to them would increase till it became too 
 formidable to be brushed aside. For a moment the young 
 man entertained the idea of accompanying Purdung's cara- 
 van disguised as a muleteer, sending back his own caravan 
 in charge of one of his men, who would have to personate 
 his master. But none of his four untutored muleteers 
 could be expected to play the part without detection, and 
 Philip abandoned the idea. 
 
 A third plan occurred to the young man's mind. Should 
 he consult Purdung as to its feasibility ? Philip had 
 already begun to suspect that there was some informant 
 in the camp. Purdung might thoughtlessly divulge the 
 plan to one of his attendants, and the lamas might in this 
 way get to know of it. Philip decided to keep his own 
 counsel, and in reply to Purdung's suggestion that they 
 should travel together in defiance of the lamas' orders said 
 that, much as he would like to accompany him, he felt 
 certain that the attempt would end in failure. Accord- 
 ingly, with much bewailing from Purdung and genuine 
 regret on Philip's part — for the Tibetan merchant was a 
 pleasant and light-hearted companion — Purdung's caravan 
 started from the inn, leaving .Philip in the middle of the 
 street gazing wistfully after it. 
 
 82 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 AS soon as Purdung's caravan disappeared from view 
 l\ Philip Harwood returned to the yard of the inn with 
 his mind made up. The pack animals were already loaded, 
 and nothing could be gained by unloading them and re- 
 maining at the inn. As the lamas were not likely to alter 
 their decision the sooner he started on the road to Ta-chien- 
 lu the better. Philip found his four muleteers waiting to 
 learn what he intended to do. They had, of course, over- 
 heard his conversation with the lamas, and wondered what 
 would be the outcome of it. Mantso was visibly crest- 
 fallen at the check his master had sustained. The muleteer 
 had now identified himself with Philip's object, and felt his 
 reputation -at stake in the endeavour to reach Lhasa. 
 Phendi had his usual abstracted air, as if it were the same 
 thing to him whether he journeyed from Ta-chien-lu to 
 Lhasa or from Lhasa to Ta-chien-lu. Esa evidently viewed 
 the situation with disfavour. To retrace his steps seemed 
 more toilsome than to keep marching forwards.. As for 
 Jasi, he gazed at Philip with a curious expectancy, as if 
 much interested to learn his choice. 
 
 The young Englishman did not leave them long in doubt. 
 Briefly announcing that he meant to return to Ta-chien4u, 
 he gave the order for the march to be commenced. The 
 members of the caravan wore a dejected air as they rode 
 slowly eastward out of the village that morning. Travel- 
 ling back over ground already trodden, when you are par- 
 ticularly anxious to go forward, is a disagreeable occupa- 
 
 • 83 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 tion. Each stage reminded Philip of his buoyant hopes on 
 the outward journey, and made his retreat the more dis- 
 tasteful. The gloom pervading the caravan was intensified 
 by the slowness with which the yaks travelled, their move- 
 ment being almost a crawl in comparison with the walk of 
 the mules. 
 
 This tedious day's march came to an end when barely 
 ten mUes had been covered. As soon as Philip's tent 
 was pitched Mantso served his master's supper in silence. 
 The usually merry muleteer had been very taciturn all 
 day, hardly saying a word to Philip or to his fellows. 
 When the meal was cleared away the young English- 
 man lit his pipe and considered the situation. Thp 
 result of his reflections was that he summoned Mantso 
 to his tent. 
 
 " Mantso," he said, " to-day's march has been all in the 
 wrong direction ! " 
 
 Mantso's face lightened immediately. It seemed that 
 his master was not going to submit to fate without a pro- 
 test, after all. 
 
 " Yes, Kushok," he answered ; " we ought to have been 
 going towards Lhasa instead of away from it." 
 
 " Do you know this part of the country well ? " con- 
 tinued Philip. 
 
 " I have been travelling in it for twenty years, Kushok," 
 he answered simply. 
 
 " Then you could take us by a roundabout route to the 
 south and afterwards to the west, so that we should avoid 
 Namcho and join the Lhasa road again some distance be- 
 yond it." 
 
 " No one could do it fetter, Kushok." 
 
 " Well, then, we will strike camp at three o'clock to- 
 morrow morning and get away while it is still dark, so that 
 no one will see us leaving the main road." 
 
 84 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Mantso's good-natured face was wreathed in smiles as he 
 replied that he would go and tell the men to be ready at 
 that time. 
 
 The order was duly carried out. Mantso roused Philip 
 at half-past two, and served his breakfast to the flickering 
 light of a butter lamp. On leaving his tent at the conclu- 
 sion of his meal the young Englishman found all the yaks 
 loaded but one. This animal proved refractory, and would 
 not let the men put his pack upon him. Mantso at once 
 applied the usual remedy. Seizing one of the animal's 
 horns in his two hands and telling Phendi to take the other, 
 they jerked the horns outward with all their might, till it 
 seemed as if they must snap or burst the skull asunder. 
 After this operation had been repeated two or three times 
 the animal became quite dazed, and submitted without a 
 murmur to the fixing of the load. Everything was ready 
 by half-past three, and the march began. 
 
 For the first two miles Mantso led them by the side of 
 a stream, the faint shimmer of which only intensified the 
 darkness of the muddy banks on either side. Philip's mule 
 floundered helplessly along, hardly able to drag its legs out 
 of the boggy soil. As for the yaks, their great weight — a 
 wild yak buU has been known to scale over 1500 lbs. — 
 caused them to be still worse bogged, and on two occasions 
 the packs had to be removed before the animals could ex- 
 tricate themselves. These two miles took a couple of hours 
 to cover, and then the path lay up a mountain pass, which, 
 in spite of the steep eiscent, seemed a pleasant relief after 
 the clinging mud-banks of the stream. 
 
 But it was not long before this path became as difficult 
 to follow as the one just traversed in the valley. Being 
 little more than a track made by herds of antelope and wild 
 yak, it was quite unsuitable for tame animals with loads 
 upon their backs. Half-way up the pass a succession of 
 
 8S 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 huge boulders had to be crossed. They rose up one above 
 the other like the steps of a giant staircase, with the differ- 
 ence that gaps of two or three feet were often to be found 
 between one step and another. On reacMng the spot 
 Philip declared that the yaks could never mount them with 
 their heavy loads. 
 
 " They will ascend better than the mules, Kushok," said 
 Mantso. " Let the yaks go first. You will soon see 
 whether I am right." 
 
 They drew to one side of the path and allowed the lead- 
 ing yak to reach the lowest boulder. After inspecting th^ 
 height of it, the animal, urged on by Phendi, leapt up on 
 to the top of the boulder as lightly as a cat. Then it went 
 on from step to step, sometimes, as it paused to select the 
 best spot towards which to make the following jump, 
 balancing itself on a piece of rock only just large enough 
 to hold its four feet bunched close together. In fact, the 
 yaks seemed positively to enjoy poising themselves in 
 hazardous positions, and grunted with satisfaction at the 
 task to which they had been set. 
 
 The mules, however, as Mantso said, proved much less, 
 agile and surefooted. • Although relieved of their riders' 
 weight, they found difficulty in jumping the necessary 
 height. Nor could they judge their distances well, either 
 going beyond or falling short of the required spot. Their 
 feet did not give so good a hold upon the rocks as the cloven 
 hoofs of the yaks, and they frequently fell between the 
 boulders. Philip's chief surprise was that they should all 
 have escaped without a broken leg. 
 
 The day's march proved to be a tedious one. They were 
 obliged to halt for the midday meal on almost the top of 
 the pass, where argols could not be found in sufficient 
 quantities to boil the tea. Then, as they began to descend 
 the other side, a dense mist rolled up the mountain and 
 
 86 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 made the journey slow and dangerous. Even Mantso, who 
 knew the country so well, became confused and lost his way. 
 In addition to the difficulty of finding the right path, there 
 was the difficulty of making the whole caravan keep to it. 
 The muleteers could only see the animal in front of them, 
 and if they strayed from the path the sense of hearing was 
 the only means by which they could regain it. The direc- 
 tion of sound is very deceptive, and matters were made 
 worse by the rarefied state of the air at that elevation and 
 the resulting difficulty in hearing. PhUip was half inclined 
 te call a halt and pitch camp till the fog disappeared ; but 
 the severe cold, in conjunction with the impossibility of 
 procuring fuel, made the project impracticable. 
 
 Accordingly they groped their way down the mountain 
 pass in the dense white mist as best they could. All the men 
 went on foot, leading their mules and driving the yaks in 
 front of them. Mantso, of course, headed the caravan, and 
 PhiUp followed him. The chief muleteer led them on two 
 occasions down a gully from which there was no exit ex- 
 cept by retracing their steps. Once Philip found himself 
 standing on the edge of a precipice, his position being re- 
 vealed to him by a puff of wind which momentarily cleared 
 the view in front of him. Three times his mule fell down, 
 either knocking or dragging his master to the ground with 
 its fall. The nervous strain of such a journey made itself 
 felt on all the members of the caravan. 
 
 At length, towards five o'clock, Mantso confessed himself 
 lost, and asked Philip what was to be done. They had 
 evidently descended some distance, for the atmosphere be- 
 came much milder. Both men and beasts were quite worn 
 out. The fear of a fall at every step makes a journey more 
 fatiguing than three times the distance in clear weather. 
 All the men, including Philip, were bruised by falls, and 
 many of the animals were badly cut. Under these circum- 
 
 87 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 stances the young man decided to pitch camp, and began 
 to search for a suitable spot for the purpose. 
 
 Whilst thus engaged Philip found to his surprise a well- 
 worn track. The fog at the same time began to disappear, 
 rolling up the mountain like the drop scene of a theatre 
 and displaying in its place a magnificent view. The newly 
 found track ran at right angles to the direction in which 
 the caravan had been travelling. Towards the north the 
 trend of the path was hidden by a projecting rock, some 
 twenty paces from where the young man stood. As he 
 glanced in that direction a man and a boy, the one on a 
 horse and the other on a mule, rode into view from behind 
 the rock. By the side of the mule a Tibetan mastiff ran. 
 This dog, engaged in barking playfully at the boy, did not 
 notice Philip till he was close upon him, when the un- 
 expected apparition sent him with a yelp into the middle 
 of the road. As he went he tripped up the mule, and 
 in a moment the mule, its rider, and the dog were rolling 
 on the ground together. 
 
 Philip rushed forward, and dragging the boy clear of the 
 kicking mule knelt down to see if he was injured. The 
 man too jumped off his horse, and came running up to 
 where the boy lay. 
 
 " He has a cut over his forehead which has stunned 
 him," said Philip, " but I cannot find that any of his bones 
 are broken." 
 
 At this moment the boy, a bright Tibetan lad of about 
 ten years of age, opened his eyes and smiled. 
 
 " How did it happen, father ? " he said. 
 
 " He has regained consciousness," said the man to 
 Philip, " but his wound bleeds badly. What can be done? " 
 
 The members of Philip's caravan had now come up, and 
 PhUip told Mantso to get the small case in which he carried 
 a few medical appliances for use in accidents. As soon as 
 
 88 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the case was brought the young man bound up the wound 
 and stopped the flow of blood. 
 
 " This bandage will serve for the time being," said Philip 
 to the father. " How far away from here do you Uve ? " 
 
 He looked at the man for the first time, and though his 
 face seemed familiar he could not recall where he had seen 
 him. 
 
 " We Uve about two mUes further along this road — 'that 
 is, about eight miles from Namcho." 
 
 PhUip at once recognized the man's face. It was the Deba 
 who had treated Tuen Fang so cavalierly at Namcho. He 
 did not, of course, know PhiUp, and the latter continued — 
 
 " The boy had better be taken homg at once. As he 
 cannot ride in his present state, I will have a rough stretcher 
 made, and two of my men shall carry it." 
 
 The Deba gratefully accepted this offer, and a suitable 
 Utter was made out of a couple of tent poles and a stout 
 rug. Meanwhile the Deba insisted that the whole caravan 
 should accompany him, and he would give accommodation 
 to both man and beast for the night, a proposal with which 
 PhiUp was very wilhng to fall in. Accordingly they set out 
 together, though the stretcher, accompanied by PhiUp and 
 the Deba, soon outpaced the slow-moving yaks. The boy, 
 although his head throbbed painfuUy and the fall had 
 covered his body with bruises, bore the journey well. For- 
 tunately for him, it did not take much more than half an 
 hour. 
 
 From the gorgeous retinue with which the Deba had been 
 attended at his interview with Tuen Fang, Philip had been 
 prepared to find him the owner of a well-built house, but 
 he had hardly expected to see so fine a castle as that to 
 which he was now conducted. It wds built of solid stone 
 three stories high, and surrounded by a moat. A garden 
 lay on one side of the castle within the moat, the banks of 
 
 89 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 which were planted with trees. As they approached, a 
 drawbridge, cis in European castles of the Middle Ages, was 
 lowered for them, and crossing it they passed under an 
 archway into a large courtyard. Here the Deba, giving the 
 animals in charge of attendants who came to meet him, led 
 the way to the main entrance into the castle. 
 
 The chatelaine, who had, it seemed, just heard of the 
 accident, now came running out in great alarm. 
 
 " Calm yourself, Phagmo," said the Deba. " Maru has 
 had a fall from his mule and cut his forehead. This good 
 friend," indicating Philip, " bound up the wound and made 
 a hammock, in which two of his men carried the boy. Let 
 him be taken up to his room at once." 
 
 " Praise be to Buddha that he is ahve, Phala," answered 
 Phagmo, looking into the hammock and seeing her son's 
 eyes wide open. " Bring him this way." 
 
 Entering the castle, she took them through a lofty 
 chamber resembling the banqueting hall of an old English 
 castle, and up a flight of stone steps to a room on the first 
 floor. Here the boy was laid upon his bed, which consisted 
 of a mattress and bed-clothes stretched upon the floor. 
 Philip knelt down at his side, undid the bandages, and 
 bathed the wound. Then, taking a needle and thread 
 from the medicine case which Mantso had brought him, he 
 sewed the gash up neatly, for he had had some practice at 
 this land of work in the hospital at Shanghai. 
 
 " It is a clean cut," he said, " and should heal well. Give 
 me a Uttle water in a cup, and I will mix him a sleeping- 
 draught." 
 
 Phagmo gave the order to get the cup to some one who 
 left the room with a light, quick step and soon returned. 
 Philip, who had meanwhile procured the ingredients for 
 the draught from his case, turned to find the cup held out 
 to him by a young girl of seventeen years of age. She bore 
 
 90 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 a strong family likeness to the boy, and the young man 
 saw at once that she must be his sister. What struck him 
 more than anything else about her was her beautifully fresh 
 complexion. All the Tibetan women whom he had hitherto 
 seen had smeared their faces with black paste, and even the 
 chatelaine had slightly discoloured her skin. But her 
 daughter's complexion was as rosy as an English country 
 girl's. She was Sressed in a garment of yellow silk tied up 
 at the waist by a girdle, after the national custom, and 
 hanging down to just above her ankles. On her feet she 
 wore the usual high boots, the upper parts of which were 
 made of wool and the soles of untanned leather. There 
 was httle in the costume to distinguish it from that worn 
 by men, and she might have been mistaken for a lad but 
 for the thick tresses of rich black hair whicjh hung down her 
 back some distance below her waist, and were adorned 
 with coral and turquoise. 
 
 As she handed the cup to Philip her dark eyes gazed in 
 wonder at the drugs he had prepared. 
 
 " This medicine," he said as he mixed the draught, 
 " will make your brother sleep as soundly as — as I can see 
 you always do." 
 
 " He will sleep well indeed then," she answered with a 
 smile, displaying two rows of exquisitely white teeth. 
 
 The boy took the draught without a murmur, and in a 
 few minutes fell into a peaceful slumber. Much relieved 
 by this restilt, the Deba conducted Philip to the room pre- 
 pared for him and told him supper would be served below 
 as soon as he was ready. 
 
 When the young man descended from his room the sun 
 had set and the hall was illumined with rows of butter 
 lamps. The lofty pillars and brightly coloured banners 
 covering the walls made the resemblance to a medieval 
 castle more marked than ever. Down the centre a long 
 
 91 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 low table was laid for the retainers, who stood in a group 
 conversing with the Deba. A smaller table ran at right 
 angles to the top of the hall, with cushions arranged 
 for only two persons. When Philip entered the Deba con- 
 ducted him to one of the seats and took the other himself, 
 wliile the retainers placed themselves at the table in the 
 centre. Attendants at once brought in the viands, and 
 the chatelaine and her daughter helped to wait on the Deba 
 and Philip. The fare consisted of roast and boiled joints 
 of mutton, followed by scones, cakes, and fresh and dried 
 fruit. As may be well imagined, Philip, who had eaten 
 scarcely anything since four o'clock that morning, did 
 ample justice to the meal. 
 
 At its conclusion the retainers withdrew to their quarters 
 and the tables were cleared, the women taking their dinner 
 in another apartment. When Phala and Philip had lit 
 their pipes and drawn their cushions near to the fire, which 
 was burning brightly at the top of the hall, the former 
 thought that he might at last try to satisfy his curiosity 
 about the stranger. 
 
 " In what direction were you travelling when I met you 
 this afternoon ? " he asked. 
 
 Philip hesitated for a moment as to whether he should 
 mention his real destination, and decided to do so. 
 
 " Lhasa," he answered briefly. 
 
 " Lhasa ? " repeated the Deba in surprise. " But you 
 were not on the Lhasa road." 
 
 PhUip came to the conclusion that it would be best to 
 be quite frank. 
 
 " I got as far as Namcho on the Lhasa main road, but 
 the lamas made me turn back, so I am following a circuitous 
 route in order to avoid the vUlage." 
 
 Phala smiled. The stranger evidently did not know that 
 he was Deba of the district and in sympathy with the lamas. 
 
 92 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " What reason did they give for sending you back ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 " Because I did not have a passport." 
 
 The Deba was silent for a while. Then he resumed — 
 
 " The Tibetans, as perhaps you know, are very jealous 
 with regard to foreigners entering their country. What is 
 your object in going to Lhasa ? " 
 
 " I want to trade with Lhasa merchants.' 
 
 " To what country do you belong ? " 
 
 " Eastern Mongolia. My name is Khangsar." 
 
 Phala looked at his guest, and then, after a pause, he 
 said — 
 
 " If it were not for your dark skin, and your knowledge 
 of our language, I should have said you were a pehng 
 (foreigner). But I know that many of your countrymen 
 resemble, like you, the peUngs in feature. Perhaps the 
 lamas suspected you of being one, for they would have no 
 reason to prevent an Eastern Mongol from journeying to 
 Lhasa." 
 
 " And if I had been a peling," answered Philip boldly, 
 " why should they object to my going to Lhasa for pur- 
 poses of trade ? The more merchants you have there, the 
 cheaper will all commodities become, and the whole country 
 would benefit by it." 
 
 Phala shook Ids head. 
 
 " Trade is not the first necessity of a nation. It is no 
 gain to get your merchandise cheaply if you lose thereby 
 your independence." 
 
 " How could one peling affect the independence of your 
 country ? " Philip asked. 
 
 " By himself, perhaps, he could do no harm, but others 
 would join him, till a large number of them dwelt in our 
 sacred capital. Then they would combine, and if they 
 did not get their own way, they would pick a quarrel with 
 
 93 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 those in authority and appeal to their fellow-countrymen 
 for help." 
 
 " You give the pelings a very bad character." 
 
 " We judge by what has happened in neighbouring states. 
 There is a saying in Tibet that wherever a peling gets a 
 foothold, there he remains, till the whole country becomes 
 subject to him." 
 
 " He has had a foothold in Kashmir, Sikkim, and Nepaul 
 for many years, yet he has not interfered with the inde- 
 pendence of these states." 
 
 " In Kashmir, so my father told me, they used to say — 
 ' The world is Allah's, the land is the pasha's, but it is the 
 company that rules.' " 
 
 Philip had heard the saying himself, and saw the appro- 
 priateness of the quotation. But there was one more 
 point he wished to raise. 
 
 "If the Tibetans are so opposed to foreigners, why did 
 they admit the Chinese, who have done just what you are 
 afraid the pelings wiU do, and have practically seized the 
 government of your coimtry ? " 
 
 It was a home thrust and hit the Deba hard, for he 
 frowned and answered — 
 
 ' ' According to the teaching of the great Buddha, whom we 
 worship, men should live in peace together and not shed 
 each' other's blood. We Tibetans attempted to follow this 
 precept, and the Chinese took advantage of us and invaded 
 our country. But they do not rule it so easily as you think. 
 In Eastern Tibet they exist on sufferance, and even at 
 Lhasa they are not all-powerful. Perhaps some day we 
 shall drive them out of the country altogether." 
 
 Philip realized that Phala was a patriot, and that his 
 treatment of Tuen Fang was part of a deliberate policy. 
 Perhaps, after all, there were greater blessings that a nation 
 might enjoy than mere cheapness of commodities. 
 
 94 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 WHEN Philip Harwood went to pay a professional 
 visit to his patient at dawn the following morning, 
 he was surprised to find his room untenanted. Thinking 
 that the boy had been moved to other quarters, he de- 
 scended to make inquiries about him. There was no one 
 in the hall, but, on going to the entrance, he caught sight 
 of Maru's sister feeding pigeons in the courtyard. Although 
 the temperature was still below freezing point and the 
 ground hard with frost, she had no covering on her head 
 nor any kind of outdoor clothing, and seemed quite in- 
 different to the cold. As she stood with the pigeons 
 circling round her, her dark hair and rosy cheeks lending 
 a httle colour to the grey monotony of the castle walls, 
 the young girl made a pretty picture. 
 
 " You are early," said Philip as he approached her. 
 
 " Do you call this early ? " she answered on seeing who 
 it was./ " I have been up an hour at least." 
 
 " Then you rose when it was dark. But let me know 
 your name." 
 
 " Lotzung," * replied the girl, smiling. 
 
 " It falls to you to feed your namesakes, then." 
 
 " Yes, and I am glad my parents gave me the name. In 
 my next life I should like to be a dove. It must be pleasant 
 to fly through the air as they do ! " 
 
 " You must take care to be a dove in Tibet only then," 
 rejoined Phihp. " In any other country you might be 
 killed and eaten." 
 
 "-* Lotzung, a dove. 
 
 95 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " Is that really so ? " asked Lotzung, raising her dark 
 eyes to his with a look of surprise. " We do not even kill 
 the crows which destroy our crops. How can men shed 
 the blood of animals in which there may reside the souls 
 of their dead relations ? " 
 
 " Yes, it does seem a sacrilege," rephed Philip gravely. 
 " For this reason you spare the lives of the rats and mice 
 which swarm in your temples, in case former lamas should 
 be doing penance in these shapes. But we will not talk 
 about our future incarnations. The present interests me 
 more. Where is your brother Maru ? " 
 
 " I saw him pass through the courtyard into the orchard," 
 answered Lotzung. 
 
 " What ! " exclaimed Philip in surprise. " Did he escape 
 from those who were set to nurse him ? " 
 
 The young girl gave a merry laugh. 
 
 " No one was set to nurse him. When I went to his 
 room this morning I found lum ready dressed. He said he 
 felt quite well and was going to practise with his bow and 
 arrow." 
 
 " I must see him at once. • Where is the orchard ? " 
 
 " I will show you," she replied, and taking his hand with 
 the frank action of a chUd, she led him through a long, 
 narrow archway on one side of the courtyard into the garden 
 which he had noticed on approaching the castle the pre- 
 vious evening. Here, amongst some apricot trees by the 
 side of the moat, they found Maru shooting at a target 
 which he had fixed to a tree trunk. On catching sight of 
 Philip and Lotzung he called to the former — 
 
 " Come and see if you can hit yonder target with an 
 arrow ! " 
 
 Philip took the bow which the boy held out to him. 
 Then, looking at him reprovingly, he said — 
 
 " You ought not to be out here with that cut on your 
 
 96 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 forehead ; the cold may get into the wound and prevent it 
 healing properly." 
 
 " My wound ! " repeated the boy in accents of surprise. 
 " That happened yesterday, and to-day I am quite well. 
 It hurts no longer." 
 
 The wound certainly had the appearancb of healing 
 satisfactorily, and the bby looked as well as if no accident 
 had happened to him. Still caution was necessary, and 
 Philip said — 
 
 " If you are not careful you will burst the stitches, and 
 then the wound will take some time to heal. Here comes 
 your father — now you will be scolded ! " 
 
 But the boy ran up to his father laughing, and said — 
 " The Kushok says that you will scold me for practising 
 with my bow and arrow. Is it not the duty of every 
 Tibetan to learn the use of arms ? " 
 
 The Deba looked down smilingly upon his son. Tibetans 
 are often so fond of their children that they even shrink 
 from correcting them for their faults. This is especially 
 the case with sons, of whom they think a good deal more 
 than of their daughters. Maru was evidently the favourite 
 child, and as his father took his hand and walked towards 
 Philip he said to the boy — 
 
 " The Kushok means that it is not wise to practise 
 shooting before the cut has healed. But it seems to be 
 doing well," he added, stooping down and examining the 
 woimd. 
 
 " Then let us go and hunt the musk deer as you settled 
 yesterday," rejoined the boy, seeing his parent inclined to 
 yield. " We can take the Kushok with us. It is only a 
 short ride to the hills," 
 
 " The Kushok will not encourage you to ride," answered 
 Philip, " by being one of the party. Besides, I must re- 
 sume my journey to-day." 
 
 G 97 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " You cannot start to-day, my friend," rejoined the 
 Deba. " I still have much to say to you. As for the musk 
 deer hunting, since you do not happen to approve of it 
 for the lad, we will not go. But let us return to the castle ; 
 it is time for breakfast." 
 
 The party began to retrace their steps, and on nearing 
 the entrance Maru said coaxingly to his father — 
 
 " Give me permission to sit at table with the Kushok 
 and yourself. I am old enough to be with men, instead of 
 still consorting with the women-folk." 
 
 The Deba hesitated, and might perhaps have given way 
 had not the chatelaine appeared in time to hear the request 
 and to give it the proper answer. 
 
 " Come with me, Maru," she said, taking the boy's 
 hand. " It will be time for you to sit with your father 
 when you are strong enough to draw his bow and ride his 
 steed." 
 
 ^ Thus it happened that Philip and the Deba breakfasted, 
 as they had dined, alone with the retainers, waited on by 
 Phagmo and Lotzung. 
 
 During the meal Philip again said that he must resume 
 his journey that day, but Phala would not hear of it. 
 
 " After breakfast I will show you my armoury, and then 
 we will practise shooting, I with my bow and arrows and 
 my matchlock, and you with the new-fashioned gun I saw 
 at your saddle-bow yesterday. You are my prisoner for 
 to-day," he added, smiling. " I am the Deba of this dis- 
 trict, and no one may travel through it unless I give him 
 leave." 
 
 Philip did not reply that he knew him to be the Deba, 
 and allowed the statement to pass without comment. He 
 was not at all sorry to enjoy a day's rest in such comfort- 
 able quarters, and made no further protest. At the con- 
 clusion of the meal Phala took him to the armoury, a small 
 
 98 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 room full of the old-fashioned armour of the Deba's ances- 
 tors. The protective armour consisted of copper armlets, 
 greaves, and coats of mail. Amongst the weapons Philip 
 noticed some curious arrows, lances, and three-headed 
 spears. The protective armour had not been worn since 
 fire-arms were introduced in Tibet, but bows and arrows 
 were still used for warlike purposes. As most of the 
 Chinese troops in Tibet had no other weapons, the issue of 
 a battle might depend upon them. In the armoury there 
 were also a dozen matchlocks, which the Deba kept in 
 excellent order, and of which he was very proud. 
 
 " Let us arrange a shooting match," the Deba said. 
 " You bring your new gun and I will take nay bow and 
 arrows and my matchlock. I will give orders for the tent 
 to be put up." 
 
 Shooting at a mark was evidently a pastime with the 
 Deba. The range lay about a couple of miles from the 
 castle, and a tent was necessary, he explained, so that they 
 might have their midday meal in comfort, protected from 
 the bright rays of the sun. It was evident that the Deba 
 intended to have a field-day at the butts. 
 
 The horses were soon announced, for a Tibetan noble- 
 man never walks to any place, however near, if it is possible 
 to ride there. In the courtyard they found two horses 
 and two mules, while half a dozen mounted retainers were 
 waiting to accompany their chief. 
 
 " Who is to be the fourth of the party ? " Philip inquired 
 of Lotzung. 
 
 " Are there not four of us ? " she answered, for Maru had 
 persuaded his father to let him go. 
 
 " Are you coming with us then, to practise shooting ? " 
 
 " No, I only help to bring back the arrows." 
 
 " And which is your animal ? " he asked. 
 
 " This one," she answered, taking the reins of one of the 
 
 99 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 mules, which, as Phihp noticed, had an ordinary man's 
 saddle. 
 
 " Do you ride astride like the men ? " he asked. 
 
 The young girl looked upon him with wondering eyes. 
 " Of course," she answered, " how else could I ride ? " 
 She had tied up her long garment at the waist, so that it 
 only reached to the knee, displaying to view trousers and 
 boots similar to those her father and brother wore. Then, 
 as Philip offered to help her mount/she waved him aside and 
 swung lightly into the saddle. 
 
 " I see that you are accustomed to riding," the young 
 man said. 
 
 " Yes, I often help my father's men lassoo the yaks, and 
 love riding full gallop after them." 
 
 The start was now made, but on account of Maru they 
 did not go above a walk. In spite of this, they reached 
 the ground in little over half an hour. The range had 
 been marked out in a field with a hill on the further side 
 proving an excellent background for the target. The field 
 was cut off from the road by a loose stpne wall about four 
 feet high. The Deba's servants had removed the pole 
 which usually lay across a gap in the wall. Through this 
 gap the Deba and his son passed. Philip reined his horse 
 in, so as to allow Lotzung to go next, but the young girl, 
 who had dropped a short distance behind, told him not to 
 wait, and turned her mule's head towards the wall. The 
 animal did not look like a jumper, and the slow trot at 
 which he approached the obstacle made Philip think that he 
 would not even try to jump it. But the young man was 
 mistaken, and the mule, pricking up its ears, rose slowly 
 up on his hind legs, poised himself for a moment on them, 
 and then dropped clumsily but safely over the wall. 
 
 " You did not think my mule would jump the wall, did 
 you ? " asked Lotzung with a smile, as she trotted up to 
 
 100 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Philip. " He is very slow, but he jumps better than any 
 of the others." 
 
 The party dismounted at the tent, and the Deba led the 
 way on foot to a position some hundred yards from the 
 target. Two attendants followed with his bow and arrows 
 and matchlock. Fitting an arrow to the string of the bow, 
 the Deba took a steady aim and released the missile. It 
 flew so swiftly that Phihp could not follow its course, but 
 he saw an arrow quivering in the centre of the target. 
 
 " Now you shoot an arrow," the Deba said to his guest. 
 Philip had not shot with a bow and arrow since his early 
 childhood, but he accepted the Deba's challenge. Putting 
 an arrow in its place, he tried to draw the bow but it refused 
 to bend. Phala smiled and the children clapped their 
 hands with delight. Thus spurred to make a second effort, 
 Philip drew the string perhaps a couple of inches, whereupon 
 the arrow escaped his grasp and struck the ground at a 
 distance of some twenty yards. It evidently required 
 knack as well as strength to draw a Tibetan bow. 
 
 Phala handed Phihp another bow, which bent more 
 readily, and at a shorter range the young man began a 
 match with Maru. The boy, of course, beat him easily. 
 In fact, the strength and skUl he displayed was marvellous 
 at his age. Lotzung, as she walked to and fro, bringing 
 back the arrows from the target, laughed heartily at Philip's 
 efforts. 
 
 " Perhaps you think you could beat me yourself, Lot- 
 zung," said Philip, after one of her outbursts of merriment. 
 " Come and try." 
 
 " Lotzung cannot draw a bow ! " said Maru, with the 
 conscious superiority of his sex. " Women only attend 
 to household matters. It is the men who fight." 
 
 Phala smiled at these sentiments and patted the boy's 
 bead, while Lotzung, evidently accustomed to such speech§§j 
 
 m 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 only laughed. Practice with the bow and arrows lasted 
 till the midday meal, after which Phala called for one of 
 his matchlocks. Resting the muzzle on the pair of ante- 
 lope horns attached to it, he knelt down on one knee, lit 
 the slow match, and waited. The match missed fire, an 
 apparently common experience, for Phala, in no way dis- 
 concerted, lit another and resumed his watch. This time 
 the match ignited the powder, the explosion was followed 
 almost simultaneously by the sharp pinge of the bullet 
 against the target, and Lotzung, who ran to find the effect 
 of the shot, pointed to the centre. 
 
 " It is your turn now," said Phala to Philip, with the 
 composed air of a man who has only done what he antici- 
 pated. " But if the distance is too great for your gun, go 
 a little nearer." 
 
 Phala had fired from about one hundred and fifty yards, 
 and Philip, feeling that he could double the distance, 
 answered, " I will not fire at your target, for my bullets 
 are small, and it might be difficult to find the hole they 
 make. But if one of your men will stand this log of wood 
 on yonder ledge of rock I will see if I can hit it." 
 
 Phala smiled incredulously, for the ledge was twice the 
 distance of the target. But he sent the man with the log, 
 and when it had been put up, Philip took a steady aim and 
 the log fell over. Phala gazed at the spot in amazement. 
 
 " The wind must have blown the log over ! " he said. 
 On examination, however, they found a small hole in the 
 centre of the log and the bullet flattened on the ground 
 beneath the rock. 
 
 " It is a marvellous gun," confessed Phala. " If we 
 Tibetans had such a weapon, we would soon drive the 
 Chinese out of the country." 
 
 Philip's performance put the Deba out of conceit with 
 his old matchlocks, and he spent the rest of the afternoon 
 
 IP? 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 examining his guest's rifle and trying to understand its 
 mechanism. The evening was devoted to music. Phagmo, 
 who had complained of a headache in the morning, had 
 been given a cooling draught by Philip and felt much better. 
 Phala had also been successfully treated for a troublesome 
 cough, so that the whole family, with the exception of Lot- 
 zung, had availed themselves of his medical skill. The 
 musical entertainment consisted of songs by Phagmo and 
 Lotzung, both of whom had very sweet voices, while the 
 Deba accompanied them on a stringed instrument. 
 
 Before retiring for the night Philip announced his in- 
 tention of departing in the morning, and presented Phala 
 with one of his three rifles. The Deba was greatly pleased 
 with the gift, and insisted on Philip staying another day 
 to instruct him thoroughly in its use. Though the young 
 man was anxious to get away at once, he saw that it would 
 be well to fall in with the wishes of a powerful nobleman 
 like Phala. He therefore consented to remain on the under- 
 standing that no attempt should be made to detain him 
 more than one day longer. 
 
 Philip's reputation as a physician had one result which 
 he ! had not anticipated. When he descended to the 
 courtyard the following morning, Lotzung, whom he 
 found at her daily task of feeding the pigeons, ran to him 
 and said — 
 
 " I want you to give me some medicine ! " 
 
 " Medicine ! " exclaimed Philip in surprise, as he saw 
 her rosy cheeks and bright dark eyes. " What do you 
 want medicine for ? Are you feeling unwell ? " 
 
 " No, I am not feeling unwell, but I should like some 
 medicine ! " 
 
 " Put out your tongue," said Philip gra.vely. 
 
 Lotzimg displayed a tongue of a healthy red colour. 
 
 " Let me feel your pulse." 
 
 103 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 It beat as strong and rhythmically as that of a well- 
 trained athlete. 
 
 " I think you said that you sleep well ? " 
 
 " I suppose I do. I remember nothing from the time 
 I lie down to the time I wake, and it usually seems like a 
 few minutes instead of hours." 
 
 " I need not ask if you have a good appetite," continued 
 the young man, for Lotzung had eaten with them in the 
 tent on the previous day, and he had noticed that she did 
 full justice to the fare. " Have you any aches or pain ? " 
 
 " None at all," said Lotzung. 
 
 " Well, I can find nothing the matter with you, absolutely 
 nothing, unless perhaps it is exuberance of health." 
 i Lotzung looked extremely disappointed. 
 ,'{" You have given medicine to all of them — 'father, 
 mother, and Maru," she protested, with all but tears in her 
 eyes. " Even the servants have not been forgotten. Surely 
 you can spare a little for Lotzung." 
 
 Philip was quite taken aback by the earnestness of her 
 appeal. 
 
 " I can certainly spare you some medicine, Lotzung," 
 he said with becoming gravity. " I assure you that it was 
 no intentional slight that I have not prescribed for you 
 already. I will send Mantso for my medicine case at once." 
 
 Mantso, who generally managed to be within call when 
 Philip wanted him, answered his master's summons, and 
 was dispatched to get the case. The sight of the precious 
 box in Mantso's hands induced most of the household to 
 follow him into the yard in order to see who would be the 
 lucky recipient of a portion of its much prized contents. 
 Philip, with great deliberation, measured out and mixed 
 half a cupful of sherbet and gave it to Lotzung to drink. 
 The effervescing hquid made as great impression upon the 
 spectators as the magnesia which he had admini3tered to 
 
 104 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 his host at the first stage of his journey. Lotzung was highly 
 gratified at being the object of so interesting a demon- 
 stration, while Maru muttered beneath his breath that it 
 was a shame to waste such good medicine on a woman. 
 
 During the day PhiUp instructed Phala in the use of 
 his newly acquired rifle, and presented him with a hundred 
 rounds of ammunition. In return the Deba, as they sat 
 together that evening, went into the question as to how he 
 could best assist his guest in his enterprise. 
 
 " You teU me that your object is to open up a trade with 
 Lhasa ? " 
 
 Philip assented. 
 
 " I will do all I can to help you get there. As far as my 
 own district is concerned, I will give you safe conduct, 
 but I cannot answer for other districts. No passport given 
 by me would ensure a safe passage to Lhasa. Only one 
 signed by the Emperor of China or the Dalai Lama himself 
 could do that. Therefore I warn you to be careful. I do 
 not ask for any credentials from you, nor for any account 
 of yourself. In fact, I would rather not have it. But 
 you have told me that the lamas of Namcho have sent you 
 back. They may have found out something against you. 
 Be careful, therefore, next tjme you are stopped by lamas 
 that no particulars of an unfavourable character should 
 reach their ears." 
 
 " I shall be content if you give me a safe passage through 
 yoiur district. For the remainder of the journey I under- 
 stand that I shall have to depend on my own resources." 
 
 " Even supposing you get to Lhasa," continued Phala, 
 " your troubles are not over. A stranger is always Uable 
 to have false accusations made against him. When I 
 lived in Lhasa I could have been of service to you, but I 
 have httle influence there now." 
 
 " How did you come to leave it ? " asked Philip. 
 
 105 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 The words were no sooner out of his mouth than he 
 repented them, for a cloud passed over his host's face. 
 
 " I left Lhasa because my enemies succeeded in having 
 me banished the city. The power is all in the hands of 
 the regent, a man who is not worthy of such a position." 
 
 Philip remained silent, wishing to avoid any further 
 indiscretions ; but Phala continued. 
 
 " Of course you know whom I mean. The present 
 regent has acted for three Dalcd Lamas in succession. His 
 position is almost unassailable, for he is supported by the 
 wealthy lamasery of Sera. Then he takes care to win over 
 the Chinese amban for the time being, or, if the amban 
 is not to be bought, he intrigues at Pekin for his recall. 
 The late amban was proof against bribes, and he is replaced 
 with another mandarin, who is more likely to fall in with 
 the regent's plans." 
 
 Philip saw that the Deba referred to Tuen Fang, but he 
 made no comment, and Phala went on — 
 
 "If we had an honest regent, the Chinese would have 
 no more authority in Lhasa than you have here. I opposed 
 this man and he proved too strong for me, banishing me 
 from Lhasa. However, though I have no influence amongst 
 his partisans, I will give you a letter to a friend of mine 
 in the sacred city who may be able to assist you." 
 
 io6 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 BY dawn the following morning all the pack animals 
 were loaded and the caravan was ready to start. Half 
 an hour earUer Phagmo had prepared a substantial Tibetan 
 breakfast, to which Philip sat down in company with his 
 host. At the conclusion of the meal Phala said that he 
 could ride part of the first day's journey with him. This 
 offer was very welcome, for should the lamas of Namcho 
 have heard where Philip was, they were hardly likely to 
 interfere with him if accompanied by the Deba of the 
 district. 
 
 Mantso brought his master's mule to the principal 
 entrance and Philip took leave of his hostess with many 
 expressions of gratitude for the hospitality which she had 
 shown him. As Maru had persuaded his father to let him 
 accompany the caravan as far as he himself was going, 
 there only remained Lotzung of whom to take farewell. 
 Strange to say she was nowhere to be seen, and Philip now 
 remembered that he had not noticed her feeding the 
 pigeons as usual that morning. 
 
 " I should like to wish Lotzung good-bye," he said to 
 Phala. " Where can she be found ? " 
 
 Phala did not know, and repeated Philip's question to 
 Phagmo. The latter expressed herself equally ignorant. 
 
 " Perhaps she is still in bed," said Philip. 
 
 Phagmo smiled at such a suggestion. 
 
 " A Tibetan girl soon learns to perform the various 
 duties which women have to do. Lotzung gets up at four 
 
 107 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 o'clock to churn the butter, and I saw her at that hour 
 myself this morning." 
 
 " She must be riding somewhere," said Maru. " When 
 I went to get my mule, I noticed that her mule was not in 
 the stable." 
 
 " Then she has gone to help the men with the cattle," 
 Phagmo observed. " I will tell her that KhangScir sent her 
 a farewell message." 
 
 As Philip mounted his mule he could not help feeling 
 somewhat piqued at Lotzung thus absenting herself. 
 After having coaxed out of him a special dose of medicine 
 she might at any rate have deferred her ride till his caravan 
 had started. But it was absurd to expect gratitude in a 
 girl so young and irresponsible as Lotzung. 
 
 Their journey lay along a fertile valley, where the glorious 
 tints of autumn still lingered in the land. As the road 
 was good Phala proposed riding ahead of the slow- travelling 
 yaks to await the caravan at the house of a friend some 
 ten miles distant. Philip soon recovered his spirits in the 
 pleasant company of Phala and his son, attended by six 
 gaily-dressed retainers. If he had been successful in gain- 
 ing the confidence of the Deba of one district, why should 
 he not be equally fortunate with the Deba of the next dis- 
 trict ? The Tibetan gentry, if one could judge by Phala, 
 seemed remarkably intelligent and broad-minded, and as 
 long as he kept out of the way of the lamas, he might yet 
 accomplish his design of reaching Lhasa. 
 
 Thus Philip trotted gaily along with Phala and Maru 
 either side of him, and the attendants close behind, the 
 tinkling bells which the animals carried making a pleasant 
 accompaniment to the rhythmic clatter of their feet. Occa- 
 sionally, on coming to an open stretch of springy turf, 
 they would break into a canter, when the bells would clash 
 together as the animals came into step, ringing out irregu- 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 larly again, like a peal of church bells, as soon as the uni- 
 formity of the movement ceased. 
 
 At ten o'clock they reached the farm where Phala 
 wished to halt. The owner came to the door to welcome 
 the Deba and his company, and they were soon sitting down 
 to a well-served meal. At noon the caravan arrived, and 
 Philip ordered a halt to rest the animals. Shortly after- 
 wards Phala took the young man aside and drew a letter 
 from the folds of his garment. ) 
 
 " Here is a letter to my friend Rashwa, of whom I spoke 
 to you," he said. " Do not lose it, for should you succeed 
 in reaching Lhasa it will be of service to you. Above all, 
 be careful not to arouse the suspicions of the lamas. They 
 are patriots, but over-zealous in their efforts to exclude 
 foreigners from Tibet. Two of my attendants will accom- 
 pany you to the boundary of my district, which you should 
 reach by sunset to-morrow. I have told them to keep away 
 from the main road to Lhasa, and, on leaving my district, 
 I should advise you to do the same. The track is b4d, but 
 you will run less risk of interference." 
 
 Philip thanked the Deba for his kindness and promised 
 to be guided by what he said. He then accompanied him 
 to the door, where they found Maru already mounted. 
 
 " Tell your sister," he said jestingly to Maru, " that if I 
 ever come this way again I shall reserve that beautiful 
 medicine I gave her for some one who will appreciate it 
 more." 
 
 " I thought at the time that you were only wasting it," 
 replied Maru regretfully. " When you come again, you 
 will give some to me, will you not ? " 
 
 Philip laughingly promised to do so, and then the Deba 
 and his son rode- off, accompanied by their four attendants. 
 
 After the pack animals had rested for a couple of hours 
 Philip gave the order to resume the march. The country 
 
 109 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 still remained very beautiful, and the two retainers were 
 full of interesting information with regard to it. As a 
 rule Philip brought up the rear of his caravan, to help any 
 animals which got into difficulties, and to see no straggling 
 occurred. On this occasion he anticipated no such diffi- 
 culties and rode at the head in the company of his guides. 
 
 Diverted by their conversation Philip failed to remember 
 that the saddle-mules would travel much faster than the 
 yaks, and rode a considerable distance in frc«it of his caravan. 
 When he discovered the fact it was already four o'clock, 
 and the village where the guides proposed he should spend 
 the night had come into view. Accordingly he told the 
 two men to ride on and arrange about accommodation 
 while he waited for the caravan to overtake him. 
 
 When the men had gone Philip found himself in a pretty 
 grove, with a bank of rich turf on the further side of a 
 sparkling brook. He crossed the stream by a rough log 
 bridge, and, dismounting, lay down full length on the 
 grass. The sun was still sufficiently powerful to maintain 
 a pleasant temperature, the birds twittered in the trees, 
 and the water gurgled musically as it fell over the moss- 
 grown boulders in mid-stream. The scene once more 
 reminded him of England, and, shutting his eyes, he fancied 
 himself again in the woods adjoining his distant home. 
 If the rest of his journey were as pleasant as this stage of 
 it he would be fortunate indeed, and, with that agreeable 
 sense of drowsiness which follows a long ride in the exhila- 
 rating Tibetan air, he allowed himself to fall asleep. 
 
 A pleasant dream accompanied the sleep. He saw him- 
 self overcoming one by one all the dangers of the journey, 
 and escaping the vigilance or disarming the suspicions of 
 the lamas he encountered on the way. He experienced 
 the thrill of his first view of the sacred city of Buddhism, 
 and of his successful entry into it ; his reception by Rashwa^ 
 
 IIO 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 and the first evening spent under his host's roof, with a 
 group of young Tibetan girls, — amongst whom, by that 
 disregard of the unities of time and place displayed in 
 dreams, stood Lotzung, — celebrating his arrival with songs 
 of welcome. 
 
 When he awoke these songs still seemed to linger in his 
 ears. Yes,^ there was no doubt about it, the sound of 
 girls' voices came from the direction in which the village 
 lay. Philip jumped to his feet, and in the distance, 
 thJough the trees, he saw a group of young girls coming 
 along the path towards th^ stream. They were dressed 
 in holiday attire, and decked with garlands of wild flowers 
 from the woods. As they went they sang a pretty air, 
 with the sweetness of voice for which Tibetans, both men 
 and women, are justly celebrated. 
 
 Philip made up his mind at once. This was evidently 
 some quaint Tibetan custom connected perhaps with the 
 betrothal or marriage of one of the girls composing the 
 party, and would be interesting to observe from a place of 
 concealment. Accordingly he walked in the direction of 
 the rough wooden bridge, by which they would have to 
 cross the stream, and took up his position behind a tree, 
 from which he could watch them pass without attracting 
 notice himself. As the girls came nearer he saw that one 
 of them carried a wooden platter filled with fruit. This 
 must be intended as a present for the couple in whose 
 honour the fete had been arranged. 
 
 The girls, who numbered about a dozen, were now near- 
 ing the bridge, and Philip noticed that as they went they 
 peered through the trees as if in search of something. He 
 wondered what they could be looking for, and in order to 
 discover it he incautiously bent forward too far from the 
 protection of the tree. In a moment the leader of the 
 band, a pretty girl of seventeen or eighteen years of age, 
 
 III 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 had caught sight of him, and calling to the others ran up 
 to him and took his hands. 
 
 " We have found you at last then ! " she cried. " I was 
 afraid that we had passed you. Come and sit down and 
 partake of the fruit which we have brought you." And, 
 still holding his hands, she led the bewildered young man 
 to the trunk of a fallen tree, and made him sit upon it. 
 Then, before he could ask for any explanation, she pre- 
 sented him with a khata of welcome, and threw a garland 
 of flowers round his neck. This ceremony finished, she 
 took the platter of fruit and held it out to him. 
 
 " Eat," she said. " Fruit is welcome at the end of a 
 toilsome journey." 
 
 Philip selected a magnificent pear, but before commen- 
 cing to eat it he took the opportunity of a momentary lull 
 in the laughing voices round him to say — 
 
 " It is extremely kind of you to deck me with these 
 flowers and to offer me some of your beautiful fruit, but 
 before swallowing this pear I think I ought to tell you 
 that I am not the man you are looking for. Having 
 made this explanation I feel at liberty to eat the fruit you 
 have already given me," and Philip took a hearty bite at 
 the pear. 
 
 A peal of merry laughter followed this speech with its 
 accompanying action, and the leader said — 
 
 " Whom do you think, then, we are looking for ? " 
 
 " I cannot tell," replied Philip, " but it is doubtless 
 some happy youth of your acquaintance whom for some 
 reason you wish to honour." 
 
 " Then you are wrong," the girl answered with a smile. 
 " The youth we are looking for is not known to any of 
 us, but he is a friend of the Deba of our district, and that 
 is why we wish to know him. His name is Khangsar. 
 Are you not he ? " 
 
 113 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 The young girl evidently knew all about him, and it 
 would be useless to disown the name he had chosen to 
 assume. 
 
 " Yes, I am Khangsar," he said, " and count myself a 
 very lucky person to be the object of such a pleasant 
 demonstration. That last pear was a very good one. As 
 you say they are for me I will take another one." 
 
 Again the girls laughed heartily, and, seating themselves 
 on the grass in a semicircle round him, began to weave 
 fresh garlands, singing tunefully as they did so. Philip 
 munched his pear and surveyed them at his leisure. They 
 were certainly a very presentable lot, those who were not 
 good-looking making up by pleasantness of expression 
 what they lacked in regularity of feature. 
 
 " So you heard all about me from the two guides who 
 went on ahead," he said. " I don't know how you found 
 the time to arrange such a pleasant reception for me." 
 
 They all laughed at this observation, and the leader 
 said — 
 
 " We Uke to do honour to our Deba's friends." Then 
 turning to her companions she continued : " Let us dance 
 before him now." 
 
 They sprang to their feet with a chorus of consent, and 
 commenced a quaint but by no means ungraceful dance on 
 the grass plot in front of him, singing the while, and keep- 
 ing measure to their song. It was a pretty sight, these 
 Tibetan girls executing the national dance in their native 
 groves, and Philip watched the performance with interest. 
 First came a general movement in which all took part, 
 but presently one of the girls advanced in front of the 
 qthers and performed alone, whilst her comrades stood round 
 and sang to her. This pas seul showed more animation 
 than the general ballet, and the performer after a time 
 turned towards Philip and seemed to dance to him alone, 
 
 H 113 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 After a particularly energetic finale, she threw herself at 
 his feet and held out a flower for acceptance. Phihp took 
 it, but the girl still remained on her knees, looking up at 
 him with a smile upon her lips. The situation threatened 
 to become embarrassing, and, as something further was 
 evidently expected of him, he bent forward and said — 
 
 "Thank you very much; I consider your performance 
 excellent." 
 
 Peals of merry laughter greeted this remark, and the 
 young girl, rising hastily, rejoined the rest, when another 
 pas seul v/as commenced. 
 
 In this way each member of the band performed before 
 Philip, and ended by prostrating herself at his feet, his 
 compliment on her dancing being received with the same 
 merriment, while its recipient retired with haste and con- 
 fusion to her place. There followed a short pause, and 
 Philip was coming to the conclusion that the performance 
 had ended, when a girl emerged from the shelter of the 
 surrounding trees and joined the group. She wore a mask 
 of black silk, which, with, the exception of two holes for 
 the eyes, left only the lower part of the face, including a 
 very pretty little mouth, exposed to view. The girl 
 began to dance at once, and from the first moment it was 
 plain that she far excelled the others in the grace and, 
 lightness of her movements. A bewitching smile played 
 round her mouth, and as she joined now and then in the 
 singing of the chorus the sweetest notes issued from her 
 lips. Little wonder that when she at length prostrated 
 herself at Philip's feet her companions greeted her per- 
 formance with rapturous applause. The young man, 
 gazing down through the eyelets at the sparkling eyes, 
 and attracted by the pretty smiling mouth, to which the 
 black mask acted as a foil, felt a very natural desire to 
 see her face, and said — 
 
 "4 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 "You have danced very beautifully, and I am sure 
 your features are as pretty as your voice is sweet. Take 
 off your mask and let me see if I am right." 
 
 But the young girl only shook her head, though she 
 still remained kneeling before him, looking up at him with 
 smiling lips. Her non-compliance only confirmed Philip in 
 his desire, and seizing her outstretched hands, he placed her 
 on the tree trunk on which he sat, with the intention of 
 removing the mask himself. No sooner, however, was the 
 girl seated at his side than a wild burst of applause rose 
 from her companions, and their leader ran up to the 
 couple and joined their hands. 
 
 " Cm mani padme hum ! " she exclaimed, repeating the 
 familiar Buddhist formula in solemn tones. 
 
 " Dm mani padme hum ! " cried all the others. 
 
 " What is the meaning of this ? " asked Philip, much 
 perplexed at the turn which the proceedings had taken. 
 
 " You an Eastern Mongol, Khangsar, and yet ignorant 
 of our customs ? " answered the leader. " Surely you 
 know that when a man at these dances selects a girl to 
 sit beside him he takes her for his wife." 
 
 Philip nearly Jumped out of his seat at her words, and 
 in spite of the declining temperature, great beads of per- 
 spiration broke out on his forehead. Fancy being saddled 
 with a wife just when the real difficulties of his journey 
 were about to commence, and when he would have trouble 
 enough to look after himself without being hampered by a 
 woman. Besides, his father-in-law would probably want 
 him to settle down in the neighbourhood of the village, 
 instead of taking his daughter on the perilous journey to 
 Lhasa. 
 
 " I must confess to ignorance of this custom," he 
 replied, "and on that account must claim release from 
 the contract it entails." 
 
 IIS 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 But this plea only raised a storm of protests, and cries 
 of " Hail to the bride and bridegroom ! " rose on all sides. 
 To make matters worse Philip discovered that his caravan 
 had now arrived, and that his four muleteers, reinforced 
 by the two guides, who had returned from the village, 
 were pressing forward with beaming countenances to offer 
 their congratulations. The number of witnesses was over- 
 whelming, and the young man realized that he was in an 
 awkward fix. What was he to do ? The thought struck 
 him that he might persuade his newly-wedded wife, who 
 during all the hubbub had remained silent at his side, to 
 repudiate the bargain. But on turning to her, he found 
 the mask had been removed, and recognized, to his amaze- 
 ment, the Deba's daughter, Lotzung. 
 
 " You, Lotzung ? " he exclaimed. 
 
 " Yes, it is Lotzung ! " the girl answered, smDing. " I 
 am glad you did not take any of the others, Khangsar ! " 
 she added with a little laugh. 
 
 " Well— but — I say, Lotzung, this is of course only a 
 pretty little open-air play. We had better return lo the 
 realities of life again. It is getting late, and I must push 
 on with my caravan to the village. When do you go back 
 to your father ? " 
 
 "Go back to my father?" repeated Lotzung, with her 
 eyebrows arched in pretty surprise. " A daughter when 
 she is married leaves her father and mother and accom- 
 panies her husband wherever he goes ! " 
 
 " Yes, of course, but then you are not my wife ! " 
 
 " But the wedding has this moment taken place. Were 
 we not properly married ? " she continued, appealing to 
 the band of girls. 
 
 " It is a lawful marriage ! " they all responded, much 
 amused at the perplexed expression of the bridegroom's 
 face. The six men also added with a laugh — 
 
 116 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " Yes, Kushok, she is your wife ! " 
 
 Against such a unanimous verdict it was useless to pro- 
 test, and Phihp ordered his muleteers to resume the march. 
 The two guides led the way, the baggage animals came 
 next, while Philip and Lotzung, escorted by the band of 
 girls, brought up the rear. The latter were once more 
 singing merrily, and gave Phihp the opportunity for re- 
 flection which he desired. How did it all happen ? Was 
 it a plot of Lotzung's, who, for some reason best known to 
 herself, wished to appear for a day at any rate as his wife ? 
 If so, she had laid her plans with much skill and fore- 
 thought. She must have learnt on the previous evening 
 the direction which his caravan would take. In the early 
 morning, after her mother had seen her at her usual work, 
 she must have slipped away to the stable, taken out her 
 mule, and ridden hard for the village they were now 
 approaching, in order to collect a band of girls in time for 
 his arrival. What could have been her object ? It was 
 certainly not a case of love, fpr nothing of the kind had 
 passed between them. Was she merely a tool employed 
 by the lamas to get him into trouble ? If so, they had not 
 taken her into their confidence, for no one could look at 
 her smiling, open face and beUeve that she was knowingly 
 betraying her companion. Perhaps, after all, it was only 
 a childish freak, the origin of which was capable of some 
 simple explanation. 
 
 But what gave Philip much more concern than the 
 young girl's view of the matter was the light with which 
 the Deba would regard it. No doubt he would consider 
 that his guest had made a very ill return for the hospitality 
 extended to him. Philip saw that he must be informed 
 at once, and he decided to send Mantso back to the Deba's 
 castle that very night, to explain exactly how matters 
 stood. Meanwhile he would take care that no miscon- 
 
 "7 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 struction could afterwards be put upon his present relations 
 with the Deba's daughter. 
 
 On approaching the village Philip realized that every one 
 had been informed of the recent ceremony, for the inhabi- 
 tants came out to welcome him. He was escorted to the 
 house of the chief, who had prepared a dinner in honour 
 of the wedding. To this repast they sat down at sunset 
 with as many guests as the room would hold. Of course 
 there was no opportunity for private conversation with 
 Lotzung, who took the honours paid to them with smiling 
 complacency, as nothing but her due. Philip, who caught 
 the happy gladness of her dark eyes, and the music of her 
 laughter, found it impossible to regard her as anything 
 but an irresponsible chUd of nature, without any of the 
 feelings or sentiments looked for on such an occcision from 
 her European sisters. 
 
 The merry-making was carried on after the meal had 
 been cleared away, but before the guests began to depart, 
 Philip called for silence, and said — 
 
 " I must thank you all, and especially the chief of this 
 village, whose hospitality we are enjoying, for the kind 
 reception you have given me. I attribute it to the high 
 regard in which you hold the Deba of this district, who is 
 my friend. You have, of course, all heard of the ceremony 
 which took place this afternoon. In my country it is the 
 custom for a newly-married couple to sleep in different 
 houses for the first three nights after the wedding. I there- 
 fore wish to bid you all good night before I withdraw to 
 another building." 
 
 This announcement was received at first in astonished 
 silence, and then with a ripple of incredulous laughter. 
 Lotzung, the person most concerned, smiled pleasantly, as 
 if Philip's proposition was the most natural one in the 
 world for a bridegroom to make. The chief's wife, who 
 
 ii8 
 
A Wife jfrom the Forbidden Land 
 
 had gone to much trouble in preparing the bridal chamber, 
 was the most disappointed, but her expostulations had no 
 effect on Philip. Wishing them all good night he left the 
 house for the shelter of the village inn. On his way 
 thither he gave Mantso a letter which he had found time 
 to scribble to the Deba, with instructions to ride off with it 
 at once. He then entered the inn, feeling that he had done 
 all that was possible to put matters straight. 
 
 119 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 AS Philip Harwood got up the following morning he 
 J~\. debated what his best course of action would be. 
 With regard to the Deba, whether he came himself or sent 
 a message by Mantso, no news of him could reach Philip 
 at the earliest tiU the afternoon. Meanwhile it would 
 look strange if he avoided his bride, and the young man 
 saw no reason why he should do so. In fact, by paying 
 her a visit he might arrive at some explanation of her 
 conduct, which so far was quite unintelligible to him. 
 
 Accordingly, after an early breakfast, he walked across 
 to the chief's house, and found Lotzung in the yard throw- 
 ing bread-crumbs to the pigeons. 
 
 " You have not forgotten your pets, I see," said Philip. 
 
 Lotzung smiled pleasantly up at him, and, continuing 
 her occupation, asked — 
 
 " When do we start on our journey ? " 
 
 " That depends, Lotzung," he replied. " I want infor- 
 mation on several points before I a,nswer that question. 
 In the first place, who planned that little surprise in the 
 grove yesterday ? " 
 
 " I arranged it all," replied the young girl, as if she were 
 rather proud of the achievement. " Nobody at home 
 knew anj^hing about it." 
 
 " Did you wish to be my wife then ? " inquired Philip. 
 
 " Yes, of course," she answered quite naturally, " or 
 why should I have taken the trouble ? " 
 
 " I might have chosen one of the other girls." 
 
 120 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " I wished to give you your choice, but I am glad it did 
 not fall on anybody else." 
 
 " But why should I marry at all ? " 
 
 This was a question which Lotzung had evidently never 
 anticipated. 
 
 " I do not know," she replied, " except that everybody 
 who visits this country has a wife while he is here." 
 
 " And leaves her behind when he goes ? " 
 
 " She would not, of course, be able to accompany him." 
 
 " But even supposing it is the usual custom to contract 
 such marriages when paying a visit to this country, that 
 does not explain why you should wish to marry me. It 
 cannot be because you love me ! " 
 
 " Oh no, that is not the reason." 
 
 " What is the reason then ? " asked Philip, a httle piqued 
 by so ready a confession. 
 
 " I will teU you if you promise not to be angry with me ! " 
 
 " I promise," answered Philip. 
 
 " Wen, then, I wanted to go to Lhasa, and that was the 
 only way in which it could be done." 
 
 " Why do you want to go to Lhasa ? " 
 
 " In order to see my brother who Uves there." 
 
 " I did not know you had another brother." 
 
 " We do not speak of him as a brother." 
 
 It seemed to be a delicate subject. Pethaps the youiig 
 fellow had committed some youthful folly and been dis- 
 owned by his parents, though it was not unnatural that he 
 should still hold a place in his sister's heart. 
 
 " How old is he ? " asked PhiUp. 
 
 " Fourteen," she answered. 
 
 Fourteen was very young for a boy to have irretrievably 
 disgraced himself in the eyes of his family. Philip's curi- 
 osity prompted him to ask one mgre questipn. 
 
 " What does he do in Lhasa ? " 
 
 131 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " I must not tell you," the young girl replied. 
 
 Philip saw that he had gone too far. 
 
 " I ought not to have asked you," he said, " and I am 
 glad to see you take his part. But you have not gone the 
 right way to work to get to Lhasa. You should have waited 
 till there was some one going there to whom your parents 
 could entrust you." 
 
 Lotzung shook her head. 
 
 " My mother would not let me leave the house except to 
 be married. Although my father is rich, I have to work 
 hard, and nearly all my time is occupied in household duties. 
 The only way I could get to Lhasa was as some one's wife. 
 So when I heard that you were going there, I arranged the 
 ceremony by which a girl may choose her husband if he is 
 willing to take her. Do you want to get rid of me already? " 
 
 " I am not the only person to be consulted," Philip re- 
 plied. " Your parents have the first say in the matter. I 
 sent a messenger last night to teU them what has occurred." 
 
 " Did you say that you would not take me with you ? " 
 
 " There was no occasion to do so, because, of course, they 
 will send some one to take you back." 
 
 Strangely enough this statement seemed to set Lotzung's 
 mind at ease, and she asked no more questions. The 
 festivities in connection with the marriage were still being 
 kept up by the chief, and the two principals had to grace 
 them with their presence. Lotzung acted her part with a 
 smiling composure, as if she had been wedded to some one 
 she had known from childhood. But Philip could not 
 dissemble his feelings, and, for a bridegroom, wore a look 
 of decided perplexity. 
 
 The hours passed by and no news came from Phala. On 
 his good horse he could easily have reached the village early 
 in the afternoon, but the sun set and he did not appear. 
 Philip sat silent and preoccupied amidst the festivities 
 
 122 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 which were going on around him. What was he to do if 
 the parents refused to take their daughter back ? But at 
 length he heard that Mantso had returned, and, hurrying 
 out into the yard, he found his servant just dismounting 
 from his mule, whose drooping head and panting nostrils 
 testified to the pace at which he had been ridden. 
 
 " Has the Deba arrived, Mantso ? " asked Phihp. 
 
 " The Deba is not coming, Kushok," answered Mantso^ 
 " He gave me this letter for you," and the muleteer pro- 
 duced a letter from the folds of his garment. 
 
 " How is it you have been so long ? " 
 
 " I arrived at the Deba's castle at eight this morning. 
 He had left to hunt the musk deer three hours earlier, and 
 they expected him back at noon. As my mule was tired, 
 and I should have gained no time by going in search of him, 
 I waited for him at the castle."- 
 
 Philip took the letter to the hght of the open doorway 
 and read as follows : — 
 
 " Honoured Friend,^ — Your letter informs me that you 
 have been married unwittingly by a band of young girls to 
 my daughter Lotzung, and you ask what I wish you to do in 
 the matter. There is nothing to be done. We received 
 from Lotzung, by a messenger who arrived a short time 
 before your muleteer, a certificate of the marriage, signed 
 by all the girls who witnessed it. Such a certificate in our 
 country makes the marriage legal. We shall miss Lotzung 
 greatly, for she is very useful in the house. But she has 
 been lawfully married, and we no longer have any claim 
 upon her. Since she must leave us, I am glad she goes with 
 you, for are we not friends, and have you not given me a 
 proof of your friendship by presenting me with one of your 
 beautiful guns ? You will find Lotzung a hard worker, who 
 wiU serve you well in every way. Farewell. — Phala." 
 
 Here was a pretty state of affairs ! Just when he was 
 
 123 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 about to enter on the most perilous portion of the journey 
 to Lhasa, Philip found himself tricked into a marriage with 
 a girl whose parents regarded the contract as binding. He 
 had no desire to make a lifelong partner of a Tibetan woman, 
 nor did the idea of a temporary marriage find favour with 
 him. Although he was not in love with Lotzung any 
 more than she was with him, he respected her too much 
 to consent to an alliance of this character. What was he 
 to do ? He could not send her back to her father, after 
 the letter he had just received from him. It would be 
 worse still to leave her behind at the very village where 
 her marriage had been celebrated as an event which had 
 called for general rejoicing. He decided to see what 
 Lotzung herself thought of her father's letter. 
 
 On re-entering the house Philip found the young girl per- 
 forming a dance by herself in the centre of the room. As 
 she did not catch sight of him he stood and watched her 
 for a while. Moving on a level floor instead of the 
 grass, she danced even better than the previous evening. 
 Her figure was good, and the silk robe she had donned was 
 very becoming. But her sparkling eyes and joyous ex- 
 pression proved even more attractive than her graceful 
 movements. She was not the kind of bride one would 
 expect to find a newly-wed husband planning to get rid of. 
 
 The performance ended amidst great applause, and then 
 Philip led her to a corner of the rqoin. 
 
 " I have just heard from your father," he began. 
 
 " What does he say ? " asked Lotzung, her happy ex- 
 pression undergoing no change. 
 
 " What did you expect him to say, after getting the 
 certificate you sent him ? " 
 
 " I knew they could not order me to go back to them, 
 and as you did not do so they must of course agree to the 
 marriage." 
 
 124 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " What is to be done then ? " 
 
 " It is very simple. Am I not your wife, and does not 
 a wife accompany her husband wherever he goes ? " 
 
 " Listen to me, Lotzung. Though you may be my wife 
 according to Tibetan law, you are not according to the law 
 of my country." 
 
 " But we are in Tibet, and therefore I am your wife." 
 
 " Suppose I leave Tibet, you could not then come with 
 me. You ought to marry a Tibetan, so that you would 
 never be separated from him." 
 
 " But you do not mean to leave me here ? " rejoined 
 Lotzung, with a look for the first time of anxiety in her eyes. 
 
 " There is only one thing to be done. Have you any 
 friends in Lhasa ? " 
 
 " I have an uncle." 
 
 " Well, I will take you with me on the understanding 
 that we are husband and wife in name only, and that as 
 soon as I get to Lhasd, if I ever do, I hand you over to your 
 uncle, when our temporary partnership will be dissolved 
 for good." 
 
 " That is all I want," replied Lotzung, evidently pleased 
 with the arrangement. " In return I will work for you as 
 faithfully as your wife, though I shall only be your servant." 
 
 As soon as the matter was settled Philip went out into 
 the yard and summoned his men. 
 
 " We start at dawn to-morrow," he said. 
 
 Mantso, Phendi, and Esa were evidently gratified with 
 the news, but Jasi said — 
 
 " Which route does the Kushok wish to take ? " 
 
 " The same as before, running parallel to the main 
 Lhasa road." 
 
 " That route is now impossible, for there was a heavy 
 fall of snow last night." 
 
 " Is there any other way open ? " 
 
 125 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " Yes, there is a road to the right shortly after leaving 
 the village." 
 
 " But that joins the main road," said Mantso. 
 
 " No, you bear to the left again, after passing' round to 
 the north of Mount Miri-La." 
 
 Mantso said he did not know the road, and both Phendi 
 and Esa agreed with him. Under these circumstances 
 Philip decided to take no notice of Jasi's unfavourable 
 report against continuing on the road they had been 
 following, and merely repeated his order for the caravan 
 to be ready to start in the morning. 
 
 After an early breakfast at the inn Phihp went over to 
 the chief's house and found Lotzung waiting for him at the 
 entrance to the yard. She was dressed in a simple costume 
 of grey Tibetan cloth, the sober colour of which only served 
 to heighten the effect produced by her rosy cheeks and 
 sparkling eyes. Seeing that Philip was ready to start she 
 mounted her mule, which one of the chief's attendants was 
 holding. As she rode out into the street a fine Tibetan 
 mastiff bounded joyfully in front of her. 
 
 " Whose dog is that ? " asked Philip, admiring its huge 
 proportions and shaggy coat. 
 
 " That is my dog Champa," answered Lotzung. " You 
 will not forbid its coming with us ? " 
 
 Philip was glad to have a dog to accompany the caravan. 
 Tibetan mastiffs are useful to their owners, though annoy- 
 ing enough to every one else. He had several times thought 
 of procuring one, but was afraid it would be diliicult to 
 gain its affection. A dog, however, that was already at- 
 tached to a member of the caravan would no doubt prove 
 of service to it. 
 
 In spite of the late hour at which the festivities had 
 ceased the previous evening, nearly all the merry-makers 
 were up to witness the departure of the caravan. Philip 
 
 126 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 waited till all the pack animals had gone, and then took 
 leave of the chief who had honoured his marriage with 
 such lavish hospitality. As a farewell present the young 
 Englisl^man gave him a compass, which he carried on him, 
 and which was more ornamental thau useful. The chief, 
 however, had admired it and was delighted with the gift. 
 
 The ascent of the pass over the_Miri-La mountains began 
 about an hour after they left the village. Jasi's report 
 with regard to the snowfall proved to be correct. The 
 higher they went the deeper the snow became and the more 
 slowly the animals progressed. All the men dismounted, 
 and Lotzung insisted on doing the same, though her com- 
 paratively light weight could make little difference to her 
 mule. The snow had obliterated all signs of the path, and 
 Mantso himself was frequently at fault. When they halted 
 for the midday meal no argols could be found with which 
 to light a fire. One of the chief disadvantages of following 
 a by-path was the scarcity of argols. The consequent in- 
 ability to boil water means the loss of a meal to a Tibetan, 
 for besides using the hot tea as a drink he rolls his tsamba 
 balls with it. Even if everything went well the top of the 
 pass. could not be reached under fotir hours. If difficulties 
 were encountered another hour or two would have to be 
 added. What was to be done ? Should they go on, or 
 camp where they were for the night ? 
 
 Philip decided on the bolder course, and after an hour's 
 rest gave the order to resume the mSrch. The effects of 
 the altitude they had reached were now severely felt. The 
 mules, though relieved of their riders, staggered wearily 
 upwards, while even the hardy yaks showed symptoms of 
 exhaustion. As for the men, the familiar signs of mal de 
 montagne made themselves visible, the effort of dragging 
 the animals out of snowdrifts proving a great tax upon 
 their strength. Lotzung suffered from dizziness and head- 
 
 127 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 ache, but, refusing to mount, tramped pluckily along 
 behind her mule, holding on to its tail for assistance. Philip 
 himself had made his way to the head of the caravan, 
 Mantso being the only person in front of him. Oppressed 
 with mountain sickness, his head throbbing violently, and 
 with a sensation of leaden weights on his feet, he struggled 
 resolutely on, determined not to give in till nature refused 
 to go any further. 
 
 Thus plodding painfully upward and hardly conscious of 
 his surroundings, he suddenly missed both Mantso and the 
 mule. Had he passed him without noticing it ? He was 
 on the point of turning round when a cry seemed to come 
 out of the bowels of the earth in front of him. Peering 
 forward he caught sight of the top of Mantso's cap in a hole 
 in a snowdrift made by his mule and himself. The caravan 
 was halted, ropes were brought, and Mantso was, after con- 
 siderable exertion, hauled out of his self-made pit, for the 
 top of his head had been some five feet below the level of 
 the snow. Still greater difficulty was experienced in re- 
 covering the mule, but it was at length dragged out on to 
 firm ground again. 
 
 The exertion caused by the last effort prostrated all the 
 men, and they threw themselves full length upon the 
 ground to recover their breath and ease their palpitating 
 hearts. Lotzung had sunk upon a rock, and Philip alone 
 remained standing face to face with this fresh obstacle. 
 The cold was intense. His breath, exhaled in short, quick 
 gasps, froze into snowflakes as it left his lips. Still he was 
 resolved not to give in as long as he had the power to move. 
 
 " Have you lost the path ? " he asked Mantso, when the 
 muleteer at length rose to his feet. 
 
 " No, Kushok, the path here runs in a hollow between 
 two walls of rock. The wind has filled the hollow with 
 snow." 
 
 128 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " We had better keep along the top of one of the walls 
 then." 
 
 Mantso shook his head. 
 
 " They are too rugged and uneven." 
 
 " We must press on somehow," said PhUip resolutely. 
 
 " It can only be done in one way," replied Mantso. " The 
 yaks must be rmloaded and made to tread down a track 
 along the course of the path." 
 
 Reluctantly the men set about undoing the packs which 
 would cost them so much labour to replace. In their ex- 
 hausted condition, and with their fingers numbed with cold, 
 it proved a troublesome task, but they accomplished it at 
 last. The leading yak, a powerful animal with shaggy coat 
 reaching to the ground, was then led up to the hole from 
 which Mantso and his mule had recently been dragged. 
 At the edge it halted, looking down into the cavity with 
 startled eyes and blowing intermittent jets of vapour from 
 its distended nostrils. The sagacious animal understood, 
 but did not relish the work which was required of it. A 
 blow from Mantso put an end to its hesitation, and with a 
 series of short expostulatory grunts it felt its way slowly to 
 the bottom of the hole. There it halted, waiting patiently 
 for the next step in the operation. 
 
 A second yak had now been brought up, and was being 
 driven down into the hole. It descended on the top of the 
 first one, and then made a fresh hole for itself in front of its 
 predecessor, and in the desired direction. A third yak came 
 and, walking along the backs of the other two, still further 
 extended the passage. When this manoeuvre had been 
 performed by each yak in turn, the first animal to descend 
 into the hole was made to jump on the back of the next one 
 and walking along the whole line, make a fresh place for 
 himself at the head. The others followed, and the operation 
 was continued till the end of the drift was reached 
 
 I 129 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Even then the task was not completed. The snow at the 
 bottom of the passage thus made was still very yielding, 
 and the yaks had to be driven backwards and forwards two 
 or three times before it became firm enough to carry them 
 with their loads on their backs. It wanted now only half 
 an hour to sunset. Both men and animals were exhausted 
 with their long day's work and scanty food. Even Mantso's 
 endurance was coming to an end, while Jasi openly mur- 
 mured against doing anything more that night. It seemed 
 imperative to encamp where they were. The animals could 
 not have their packs replaced upon them before dark, and 
 then they would have in front of them a long and trying 
 passage through the snowdrift. Yet, in spite of these objec- 
 tions, Philip gave the order to reload, and, though the men 
 complied reluctantly, they knew the order was a wise one. 
 For if a snowstorm occurred in the night aU the labour of 
 making the passage would have to be performed again on 
 the following day. Accordingly the packs were slowly 
 secured upon the animals' backs, an operation which occu- 
 pied the men till some time after nightfall. Then followed 
 the tedious march along the prepared track, the snow at 
 portions of it being still soft enough to allow the yaks to 
 sink to their girths in it. It was nearly ten o'clock before 
 they aU arrived at the other end, and then animals and men 
 cdike were so exhausted that they sank upon the snow- 
 covered ground to rest. PhiUp found a sheltered spot 
 beneath a boulder for Lotzung, and she lay down in it, 
 protecting herself from the wind by Champa's shaggy coat. 
 Then, clearing a space for himself in the snow, the owner of 
 the caravan stretched himself upon the hard ground and 
 fell into a well-earned sleep. 
 
 130 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 AS soon as the first faint streaks of dawn appeared in the 
 J\ eastern sky Philip awoke. He had slept soundly, the 
 surrounding snow keeping him as warm as in a comfortably 
 heated chamber. His first visit was to the boulder where 
 Lotzung lay. He found the young girl sleeping peacefully, 
 with a sheepskin garment rolled up for a pillow, and one 
 hand buried in Champa's woolly coat. As she lay there 
 with her long black eyelashes showing in reHef against her 
 waxen skin, the cheeks just tinged with the rosy hues of 
 the rising sun, and a happy smile upon her lips, Lotzung 
 made cC very pretty picture, and Philip marvelled at a con- 
 stitution which seemed so little affected by the rigours of 
 the altitude which they had attained. 
 
 The young man then turned his attention to the mule- 
 teers. Jasi alone had taken the trouble to make a bed for 
 himself in the snow, the others lay on the top of it, just as 
 they had thrown themselves down the previous night. Esa, 
 indeed, who had become hot when driving the yaks through 
 the narrow passage, and had, in Tibetan fashion, slipped 
 his right arm and shoulder out of his sheepskin coat, had 
 not even re-covered them, but lay with his bare skin upon 
 the snow. As for the animals, Philip found the mules 
 huddled together in a dejected group, having evidently 
 despaired of extracting any sustenance from the rocky soil 
 beneath the snow. The yaks, however, seemed to relish 
 the withered tufts of grass which they found here and there 
 beneath the shelter of a boulder, and which the dry air of 
 
 131 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the country had rendered hard enough to pierce the sole of 
 a raw-hide Tibetan boot. 
 
 By this time Mantso had risen and come to Philip for 
 orders. It was useless to attempt to boil water at that 
 altitude, even if any argols could be found for the purpose. 
 The boihng point was so low that on removal from the fire 
 the tea would have frozen in the bowl. The only thing to 
 be done was to resume the march at once. Fortunately the 
 yaks were ready laden, as the men had been too exhausted 
 on the previous evening to relieve them of their packs. 
 The fodder they had managed to find had somewhat re- 
 newed their strength, and they commenced the march with 
 a fair reserve of energy. 
 
 Even supposing they did not encounter another snow- 
 drift, a couple of hours' journey still remained before they 
 could reach the summit of the pass. If hindered by a 
 snowdrift their position would become really serious, for 
 the exertion entailed by it, and the further postponement 
 of their much-needed meal, might incapacitate the men 
 from further effort. Philip trudged resolutely on behind 
 Mantso and his mule, fearing every minute to see them 
 disappear in a drift as on the previous day. 
 
 In this way three-quarters of the ascent was safely accom- 
 plished when a faint cry caught Philip's ear. Turning 
 round he saw that Lotzung's mule was no longer followed 
 by its mistress, who had sunk upon the ground, while 
 Champa stood over her and licked her hands. PhiUp 
 caught the mule's bridle and led the animal back to where 
 the young girl sat. The colour had gone from her cheek, 
 but she summoned a brave smile to her lips as she said : 
 " I am taking a little rest. It is want of food, I think, 
 which makes me feel so weak." 
 
 In spite of her youth and vigorous constitution Lotzung 
 was, after all, only a woman, and could not endure the 
 
 132 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 hardships of such a journey like a man. It would be use- 
 less to put her on her mule, for the animal was too weak 
 to carry her. Accordingly Philip said — 
 
 " We are quite near the top now, Lotzung. Make one 
 more effort and we shall be there. I will help you." He 
 assisted her to her feet, and, holding the mule's tail in one 
 hand and supporting Lotzung with the other, resumed the 
 march. Champa, conscious that something had gone wrong, 
 followed with lowered head and tail between his legs'. 
 Philip found this last portion of the ascent a very great 
 strain, weakened as he was by want of food, and by the 
 effects of the altitude. Towards the end Lotzung became 
 so faint that he could only support her by putting his arm 
 round her waist. Half Ufting, half dragging her, he toiled 
 slowly upwards till the summit was gained. Mantso had 
 already reached it and tied a lung-ta to one of the poles 
 belonging to the cairn of stones. He was now prostrate 
 before it, returning thanks to the deity of the pass. Lot- 
 zung, revived by the fact of having reached the summit, 
 produced a khata and said to Philip — 
 
 " Let us also attach a lung-ta to the pole." 
 
 Philip humoured her wish, and the khata, fastened to 
 the pole, was soon flapping gaily in the wind. 
 
 " Now let us offer our prayers to the god of the mountain," 
 she continued when he returned to her. " We have much 
 reason to be grateful to him." 
 
 She took Philip's hand and drew him towards the cairn. 
 Then, faUing on her knees, she looked up to him and said — 
 
 " Will you not pray at my side ? Otherwise our journey 
 is sure to be unlucky. Husband and wife should offer up 
 their thanks together." 
 
 She looked up to him so imploringly that he yielded to 
 her entreaties and knelt down at her side. But while the 
 young girl was repeating the meaningless formula of the 
 
 133 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Lamaist Church Phihp returned thanks to the God of his 
 childhood for having brought him thus far safe upon his 
 journey. 
 
 The descent on the further side of the mountain now 
 began, and in two hours' time Philip halted on the site of 
 a former camp. Sufficient argols were found to cook the 
 breakfast, and kettles were soon singing on the camp fires. 
 The spot was too high and exposed to form a camping place 
 for the night, so, after an hour's rest, the downward march 
 was resumed. By five o'clock they had reached a suitable 
 spot for the purpose. The animals were unloaded, the 
 two tents (Philip had brought a separate one for Lotzung) 
 erected, and the evening meal prepared, after which the 
 members of the caravan retired to a well-earned rest. 
 
 The marches of the next few days proved very trying. 
 A Series of mountainous ridges ran at right angles to the 
 course, and the whole time was occupied in alternately 
 ascending and descending them. On the main road they 
 could have counted on sufficient argols for the camp fires, 
 and on falling in with a house or a village every two or three 
 days. But on the bypath they were following both argols 
 and habitations were very scarce. Only the danger of 
 interference from the lamas prevented Phihp on more than 
 one occasion from striking out for the main route. 
 
 On the fourth day an accident occurred which still 
 further augmented the young man's troubles. Mantso, as 
 usual, led the caravan and Philip brought up the rear. 
 While thus engaged Lotzung came riding back with a very 
 white face. 
 
 " Mantso's mule has slipped," she said, " and they both 
 rolled down the mountain-side together." 
 
 Philip hurried forw9,rd to the front as quickly as possible. 
 They were ascending a path cut in the rock on the side of 
 a ravine. There was just room enough for him to pass the 
 
 134 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 pack animals, and at length he reached the head of the 
 column. Phendi and Esa were gazing in horror down the 
 chff over which Mantso had disappeared, while Jasi sat down 
 upon the path, unconcernedly preventing the animals 
 advancing any further. 
 
 " Why do you all stay here doing nothing ? " exclaimed 
 Philip angrily. " Mantso must be rescued. Get me some 
 rope." 
 
 " No one can descend a cliff like that," said Jasi, not 
 offering to move. 
 
 " The ropes at once, blockhead ! " cried PhiUp, with a 
 look which made the man rise without further delay and 
 go in search of the yak which carried them. As soon as he 
 returned with a long coil of rope, Philip made one end fast 
 to the tree and began the descent. It was much more steep 
 than the place where his own mule had fallen, and he had 
 little hope of finding either the animal or its rider alive. 
 They had been invisible from the path, but after he had 
 descended some thirty feet he caught sight of them lying 
 on a ledge of rock, the mule's further descent being stopped 
 by the trunk of a tree. Both were motionless, and from 
 the helpless manner in which the mule's head, with pro- 
 truding tongue, hung over the precipice, it was plain that 
 he was already dead. Was Mantso also beyond recovery ? 
 
 Philip descended to the ledge on which the muleteer lay 
 and knelt down at his side. He had evidently received a 
 violent blow on the forehead which had closed up both his 
 eyes. But to Philip's intense relief Mantso, though 
 stunned, was still breathing. There was no time to be 
 lost. The young man called for another rope to be lowered, 
 and, having taken the saddle off the dead mule, tied it 
 round Mantso's body with the end of the second rope. He 
 then gave the order to his men to heave up the injured man, 
 and, climbing up the first rope himself, he assisted the 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 muleteer's helpless body over the obstacles on the side of 
 the cliff, which from time to time obstructed his passage. 
 
 In this way Mantso was at length brought safely back to 
 the path again. Restoratives were appUed and, as soon 
 as he regained consciousness, his wound was bathed and 
 dressed. As it was impossible for him to travel in his 
 present condition the camp was pitched in an open space 
 some hundred paces further on. The wounded man was 
 taken into Philip's tent and soon fell into a healthy slumber. 
 
 Such was the muleteer's vitality that on the following 
 morning he seemed none the worse for his terrible fall, 
 except that the swelling over his eyes still prevented his 
 seeing out of them. He insisted, however, that he was well 
 enough to travel, and in proof of his assertion he scrambled 
 to his feet and groped his way to the tent door. 
 
 " But who is to be the guide, now that you cannot see ? " 
 asked Philip. 
 
 " The other three muleteers know the road well enough," 
 Mantso answered, " to take you the route you wish to go." 
 
 Philip summoned the three men to his tent, and said to 
 Phendi : "As Mantso is unable to see, can you take his 
 place as guide ? " Phendi shook his head regretfully. 
 
 " I have never been this road before, Kushok," he 
 answered. 
 
 " And you, Esa ? " continued Philip. 
 
 " I have only travelled once this way, and do not know 
 it well enough to act as guide." 
 
 This was unfortunate, for PhiUp had more confidence in 
 these two men than in Jasi. StiU, there was no help for it. 
 
 " Do you, Jasi, know the route ? " he asked. 
 
 " I have followed it many times, Kushok," he replied. 
 
 " Well then, you shall act as guide, remembering that in 
 no case are you to lead me to the main road to Lhasa. Do 
 you understand ? " 
 
 136 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Jasi cowered before the penetrating glance which accom- 
 panied these words, but recovering quickly, answered that 
 he understood quite well and would take care to do the 
 Kushok's bidding. Whereupon Philip dismissed the men, 
 telling them to load the animals and resume the march. 
 
 As Mantso had lost his mule Philip selected a quiet yak 
 to carry him, and the march began. The young man kept 
 a sharp look out on Jasi, checking by his compass the direc- 
 tion in which he led them, especially when the path forked 
 in two directions. For three days matters went on satis- 
 factorily. The road, it is true, became rougher, thereby 
 increasing the labour of the pack animals, and resulting in 
 the Ipss of three of them. But the general direction of the 
 march seemed to be as Philip wished, and to judge from 
 the wildness of the country and the absence of habitations 
 they could be nowhere near the high road to Lhasa. 
 
 " Jasi seems to make a good guide," said Philip to Lot- 
 zung, as they rode side by side the third morning after 
 Mantso's accident. 
 
 " It appears so, Khangsar, but I do not like him," re- 
 sponded Lotzung. 
 
 " Why ? " asked Philip. 
 
 " I don't know why ; I only know I cannot trust him. 
 Besides, he is a Ladaki." 
 
 Philip laughed. He knew the prejudice which the native 
 of Tibet proper entertains for those of Little Tibet, who 
 have become dependent on English rule. 
 
 " There may be honest men in Ladak," he rejoined. 
 
 " Jasi may be honest, but I do not like his eyes," she 
 answered. 
 
 There was nothing further to be said. Women are 
 always led by instinct, and no amount of reason will make 
 them change opinions formed by intuition only. 
 
 That night they encamped in a sheltered spot, near which 
 
 137 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 they were able to collect a plentiful supply of argols. The 
 camp fires burnt brightly, and the muleteers indulged to 
 the full their love of boiling tea. Lotzung, delighted with 
 their comfortable quarters, served Philip's meal in more 
 tempting fashion than she had yet been able to do. Every- 
 thing seemed to be going smoothly, and PhiUp's hopes once 
 more rose high. 
 
 But misfortune generally comes when least expected. 
 The following morning Phendi and Esa appeared at the 
 door of their master's tent with most lugubrious counten- 
 ances, and Philip saw at once that something serious had 
 occurred. 
 
 " Well, what is it, Phendi ? " he asked. 
 
 Phendi, never very eloquent, could on this occasion find 
 no words to express himself, and nudged Esa to reply for 
 him. Esa, usually so talkative, was also dumb. 
 
 " I suppose you have broken something or lost something 
 between you, and are afraid to confess it. I had better call 
 Jasi to hear what he can say." 
 
 " It was of Jasi that we wished to speak to you, Kushok," 
 said Esa at last. " We cannot find him anywhere ! " 
 
 " What ! " exclaimed Philip, a presentiment of the truth 
 taking possession of him. 
 
 " We knew nothing of it, Kushok," protested Esa, 
 alarmed by Philip's look. " He took the early morn- 
 ing watch, and when we got up we found that he had 
 gone." 
 
 " And with him has gone his mule and three of the best 
 yaks, together with their loads," said Phendi, finding his 
 tongue at last. 
 
 " Which way did he go ? " 
 
 " We tracked him down to the road into which this path 
 runs a little further on, and found that he turned to the 
 left." 
 
 138 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " Then saddle my mule-; I will soon bring him back." 
 
 Again the men hesitated. They had not yet come to the 
 end of their bad news. 
 
 " That road, Kushok," said Esa at length, " is the main 
 road to Lhasa." 
 
 So Jasi had played him false after aJl, and crowned his 
 treachery by carrying off three of the best yaks 'Adth their 
 valuable loads. Philip had never liked the look of the man 
 from the day that Mantso presented him in the courtyard 
 of the mission house. He now felt convinced that it was 
 Jasi he had seen paying a visit to the monastery outside 
 Namcho, and that in consequence of the information then 
 given the lamas had ordered him to return the way he came. 
 The young man remembered that Jasi wanted him to travel 
 in the direction of the main road on leaving the village 
 where the marriage festivities had taken place, and that 
 Mantso's accident had given him the opportunity he sought. 
 To gain his purpose he might, indeed, have caused the acci- 
 dent. On considering the matter, it really looked as if Jasi 
 had bfeen the agent of the lamas from the first. Philip 
 recollected that in every town where they had halted he 
 used to absent himself from the inn, and seemed out of 
 countenance when he was discovered doing so. No doubt 
 at each place he had communicated to the lamas all he had 
 been able to learn about his master. If Philip had only 
 acted on his first instinctive dislike of the man, and had re- 
 fused to engage him, none of these misfortunes would have 
 befallen him. 
 
 However, it was the time for action, not for vain regrets. 
 
 " Are you both sure that the road into which this path 
 runs is the main road to Lhasa ? " he asked. 
 
 " Quite sure, Kushok." 
 
 " How far is the nearest village ? " 
 
 Phendi scratched his head and looked at Esa. 
 
 139 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " About six miles," replied Esa, unhampered by any 
 scruples in the matter of accurate calculation. 
 
 " Then we shall have time to retrace our steps before the 
 lamas can reach this spot." 
 
 " There is a large monastery on the road about one mile 
 from here," said Phendi. 
 
 Jasi had certainly arranged the betrayal of his master 
 very cleverly, pitching the camp within a mile of a large 
 monastery, and getting away in the early hours of the 
 morning to give information before the caravan could start. 
 Some decision must be arrived at without delay, for the 
 lamas might already be marching on the camp. Philip 
 made up his mind at once, and went in search of Lotzung, 
 whom he met coming out of her tent. Her smile of greet- 
 ing was arrested by his serious look. 
 
 " You have bad news, Khangsar," she said. " Tell me 
 what it is." 
 
 "Jasi has deserted with his mule and three yaks and 
 their loads." 
 
 " Then Lotzung was right after all," she answered. 
 " But is that the only thing that makes Khangsar look so 
 grave ? The loss of the animals and their loads is not a 
 very great matter, and we are the better off for being rid 
 of Jasi." 
 
 " That is not all. A large monastery lies within a mile 
 of this spot, and he has doubtless laid information there 
 against me." Lotzung saw that the matter was more 
 serious than she had anticipated. 
 
 " What are you going to do ? " she asked. 
 
 " It is too late to try and run away. I shall divide the 
 caravan into three portions. With the smallest portion, 
 consisting of two or three yaks at the most, I shall attempt 
 to pass the monastery. Jasi knows that I must have dis- 
 covered his desertion by this time, and will conclude that 
 
 140 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 I shall decide to retrace my steps. He would not suspect 
 me of marching along the main road in full view of a large 
 monastery." 
 
 There was a short pause. 
 
 " And what will you do with me, Khangsar ? " the young 
 girl asked in a low voice. 
 
 " If you came with me, and the lamas discovered that I 
 was the same person who had been ordered back from 
 Namcho, they might treat you roughly for being found with 
 me. You must therefore accompany one of the other cara- 
 vans under Phendi or Esa, whom I shall instruct to make a 
 detour on either side of the main road, and meet me again 
 twelve miles on the Lhasa side of the monastery." 
 
 " The lamas will not hurt me. I would rather go with 
 you," she answered. 
 
 " You will have to put up with many hardships then. 
 We must wear the rough costume of the nomads, take only 
 three yaks for our baggage, and travel on foot ourselves. 
 But here comes Mantso." 
 
 The swelUng on Mantso's forehead had now gone down 
 sufficiently for him to use his eyes. He had just heard 
 from the other two men of Jasi's desertion, and came to beg 
 Philip not to be angry with him for having recommended 
 him as a muleteer. He said that he had travelled with him 
 once before, and that he had worked well for his master 
 then. Philip assured Mantso that he did not blame him in 
 any way for the occurrence, and proceeded to explain his 
 plans for dividing up the caravan. 
 
 " You will come with Lotzung and myself," he said. 
 " So load three yaks with only sufficient food and baggage 
 for six days' journey. We will start as soon as we have 
 changed our clothes for coarser garments. Phendi and 
 Esa can pack up the tents and set out on their march when 
 we have gone." ; 
 
 141 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 THREE-QUARTERS of an hour after the discovery 
 of Jasi's desertion Phihp left the camp accompanied 
 by Lotzung, Mantso, three yaks, and Champa. Lotzung 
 had begged that the latter might be allowed to go with 
 them. Philip had at first intended to leave the dog be- 
 hind, lest it might assist Jasi in recognizing the party. But 
 at a distance one Tibetan mastiff is very much like another, 
 and it was not probable that Jasi would in person assist 
 the lamas to intercept the caravan. The Ladaki, having 
 seen the range and efficiency of Phihp's rifle, would have 
 no desire to act as a target for it. He would probably con- 
 tent himself with pointing out at a distance what he took 
 to be Philip's caravan, leaving the monks to make sure of 
 the fact by themselves. 
 
 On reaching the point at which the path ran into the 
 main road Mantso recognized the spot, and said that the 
 monastery lay to the left about half a mile distant on the 
 way to Lhasa. To the right a caravan of twenty yaks 
 could be seen approaching. As this was about the same 
 size as Philip's before the division took place, it might serve 
 to mislead Jasi and give the small party in advance a better 
 chance of avoiding the lamas' scrutiny. 
 
 Accordingly PhiUp set out at once along the road in the 
 direction of the monastery. The trio might easily be mis- 
 taken for the members of a poor Tibetan family. Lotzung 
 had smeared her face with black ointment and had put on 
 the shapeless sheepskin garment which Tibetan women of 
 the poorer classes wear. The two men would be taken for 
 
 142 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 brothers, married, in accordance with the custom of poly- 
 andry prevalent in Tjbet, to one and the same woman. 
 The appearance of poverty would be emphasized by the 
 fact that they were all on foot, for nearly every Tibetan rides 
 an animal of some kind, and only the very poorest walk. 
 
 After travelling about a quarter of a mile the lamasery 
 came in view. It was a fine building, capable of holding 
 some five hundred monks. A large party of mounted 
 lamas were collecting at the gates, while others on foot were 
 hurrying towards the road, separated from the building by 
 a space of perhaps a hundred yards in width. The mounted 
 lamas were probably preparing to ride to the place where 
 Jasi had told them Philip was encamped, while those on foot 
 were sent to see that he did not pass along the Lhasa road. 
 
 All the three members of the small party wore horsehair 
 fridges over their eyes, so as to render recognition as diffi- 
 cult as possible. They peered through these fringes as they 
 approached the group of lamas to see if Jasi was amongst 
 them, but there were no signs of the muleteer. It seemed at 
 first as if they would be allowed to pass unchallenged, but 
 one of the lamas put up his hand and bade them halt. 
 
 " Whence do you come ? " he asked. 
 
 Mantso, whom Philip had instructed to answer all ques- 
 tions, put out his tongue in the submissive manner of the 
 poorer classes of Tibet, and bowing low replied — 
 
 " From the village of Riuchi, Kushok." 
 
 " And whither are you going ? " 
 
 " To Garthok, if Buddha permits," he answered. 
 
 " Have you seen a caravan of some twenty yaks about a 
 mile from here ? " 
 
 " A caravan of twenty yaks is now approaching." 
 
 A murmur ran through the group of lamas. That must 
 be the caravan for which they watched. The lama who 
 had just spoken, a man evidently of some authority, was 
 
 »43 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 about to dismiss the small party when a sharp- featured monk 
 at his side, who had been scanning them narrowly, said — 
 
 " Let us not be in too great a haste to send these good 
 folk away ; they might be able to give us some more in- 
 formation. The caravan we are looking for belongs to a 
 foreigner, who calls himself an Eastern Mongol." Here 
 the keen eyes of the hollow-cheeked lama seemed to be 
 piercing through their scanty disguise. Mantso made no 
 remark, and the lama continued — 
 
 " With the Eastern Mongol is his wife, the daughter of 
 the Deba of a province several stages distant from here.' 
 He has also three muleteers. Is that the caravan which 
 you say is now approaching ? " 
 
 Philip waited in anxious suspense to hear what Mantso 
 would reply. If his courage failed him they were lost. But 
 the muleteer retained his self-possession and rejoined — 
 
 " I know nothing of the members of the caravan, Kushok. 
 We saw them coming down a bypath into the main road 
 about half a mile from here, but they were not near enough 
 for us to teU what they were like." 
 
 " How are we to know that you are not a part of the 
 caravan we want ? That feUow yonder " — pointing to 
 Philip — " may be the Eastern Mongol himself, and this girl 
 his wife, the Deba's daughter." 
 
 " I am the wife of these two brothers," interposed Lot- 
 zung, speaking in the dialect of the nomads and with their 
 usual bluff directness, " but no one can say I married 
 Eastern Mongols. I am a Tibetan by birth, and would 
 not associate with such poor-spirited folk. Perhaps this 
 lama is a Mongol himself." 
 
 This speech was greeted with laughter by the monks, 
 though Philip failed to understand what Lotzung had said. 
 It was evident, however, that she had disarmed their sus- 
 picions, for the small party were allowed to go on. 
 
 144 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Philip breathed more freely as they set the yaks once 
 more in motion. They had a respite, though it might only 
 prove a short one. The party of mounted lamas who had 
 assembled at the monastery gates were already moving off. 
 PhiUp had instructed Phendi and Esa to travel slowly 
 along the main road in an easterly direction away from 
 Lhasa. They were to try and sell the five mules or ex- 
 change them for yaks. When they were overtaken by the 
 lamas, as he felt sure they would be, they were to confess 
 that they belonged to the Eastern Mongol's caravan ; that 
 their master, hearing that the lamas had been informed 
 of his presence in the neighbourhood, had resolved to 
 abandon his attempt to reach Lhasa, and that he had gone 
 on ahead of his caravan with his wife and chief muleteer, 
 aU mounted on mules. On hearing this, it was improbable 
 that the lamas would go any further, for the fugitives would 
 be travelling in the right direction for leaving the country. 
 As soon as the lamas were gone Phendi and Esa were to set 
 out from the main road on their respective detours. 
 
 If everything happened in accordance with this forecast 
 Philip and his two companions would g^t a good start, as 
 several days would elapse before the lamas could verify 
 the story of his retreat to the eastward. On the other 
 hand, if anything should reawaken the lamas' suspicions 
 with regard to the small party they had allowed to pass, 
 the pursuit would begin at once. 
 
 Accordingly Philip urged his patient yaks along at the 
 utmost limit of their speed. Fortunately the road was 
 good, and by ten o'clock six miles had been covered. At 
 this point they halted, for they had touched no food that 
 morning as yet, and Lotzung was feeling faint for want of 
 it ; while Mantso had not quite recovered his normal 
 strength. After a couple of hours' rest the journey was 
 resumed, and by four o'clock they came in sight of the vil- 
 li 145 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 lage, outside which they were to wait for Phendi and Esa. 
 As it would not do to remain in the road, Philip turned up 
 a stony ravine, where even the sure-footed yaks found it 
 hard to pick their way, and where the lamas would be very 
 unlikely to try and ride their ponies. At about one mile 
 from the road a good camping-ground was found, and in 
 the absence of the tents they set to work to make themselves 
 as comfortable as possible for the night. 
 
 In spite of the few utensils and scanty supply of food at 
 her disposal, Lotzung contrived to cook a very palatable 
 meal. As the trio sat round the camp fire after its con- 
 clusion Philip thought of Lotzung's speech which had 
 amused everybody so much, and which he had not been 
 able to understand. 
 
 " What did you say to the lamas this morning, Lotzung, 
 which they found so laughable ? " Philip asked. 
 
 Lotzung had washed the black varnish from her face at 
 a brook which gushed down the centre of the ravine, and 
 in the bright light of the camp fire her rosy complexion 
 seemed to take a deeper hue. 
 
 " It was nothing," she answered. " I spoke in the 
 Drupa tongue, and that made them laugh." 
 
 " But what did you say ? " persisted Philip. 
 
 " I said we were Tibetan nomads, not Eastern Mongols." 
 
 Here Mantso burst into a laugh, which he endeavoured 
 to smother on a meaning glance from Lotzung. Philip saw 
 that the guileless muleteer had betrayed the situation, and 
 continued — 
 
 " You, Mantso, seem to have heard something more than 
 what Lotzung has told me. What was it ? " 
 
 Mantso managed to restrain his merriment, and, in spite 
 of Lotzung's frowns, replied — 
 
 " She said she was a Tibetan by birth, and would have 
 nothing to do with poor-spirited Mongols." Philip laughed 
 
 146 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " So you look down on Eastern Mongols, Lotzung ? " 
 
 " I thought it best to say so, Khangsar," the young girl 
 answered, smiling through her evident embarrassment. 
 " I knew you would not understand me, and you would 
 have heard nothing of it but for this foolish Mantso here." 
 
 " I like to know what people say of me," rejoined Philip. 
 " So you have been taught to despise Mongols, and yet you 
 married me ? " 
 
 "You are not like other Mongols I have seen," she replied. 
 
 "Well, you got us out of a difficulty by what you said, 
 and I don't mind how much you talk against us Mongols 
 as long as you persuade the lamas to leave us alone." 
 
 In spite of sleeping in the open, Philip passed a very good 
 night and awoke refreshed at dawn the following morning. 
 Although he did not expect either Phendi or Esa to arrive 
 till the evening at the earliest, he took it in turn with 
 Mantso to watch the main road from the shelter of a pro- 
 jecting rock. Darkness fell without any signs of the two 
 muleteers, and another night was spent in the ravine. On 
 the third day neither of them had appeared by noon, and 
 towards four o'clock Philip was getting anxious when he 
 saw a tall, thin figure stalking along behind half a dozen 
 yaks, and recognized Phendi. The yaks were soon driven 
 up to the camp, and when he had been supplied with tea 
 and tsamba by Lotzung the muleteer allowed his story to 
 be gradually extracted from him. 
 
 It appeared that with the eighteen yaks which remained 
 in the camp Phendi and Esa started off shortly after 
 Philip's small party had left. According to instructions, 
 they travelled slowly along the main road in the opposite 
 direction to Lhasa, and came upon a small caravan con- 
 sisting of two men, a woman, and a couple of yaks resting 
 by tl^e roadside. The yaks carried the goods of the family, 
 and though their packs were small the animals, on account 
 
 147 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 of their poor condition, were exhausted. The trio bewailed 
 their misfortune, as they were anxious to get to Litang as 
 quickly as possible. 
 
 Phendi and Esa saw they were just the people to take 
 their five mules, and offered them in exchange for the two 
 yaks, explaining that they were going to cross some verj^ 
 rough country, where mules would be almost useless. The 
 poor family accepted the offer with delight, and having 
 shifted their packs on to two of the mules rode off in the 
 highest spirits. 
 
 About half an hour later a party of mounted lamas over- 
 took the two men, and Esa repeated the prearranged 
 story that the caravan belonged to an Eastern Mongol, who 
 had gone on ahead with his wife and chief muleteer in order 
 to reach the next village by sunset. The lamas appeared 
 satisfied with the story, and rode back in the direction of 
 the monastery. When they were out of sight Phendi and 
 Esa separated, the former starting on a detour to the right 
 of the Lhasa road, and the other to the left of it. 
 
 Phendi found the country very rough, and being totally 
 unacquainted with it gave his animals and himself much 
 unnecessary labour through taking routes which proved to 
 be impracticable and having to retrace his steps. In his 
 three days' journey he lost three yaks from exhaustion and 
 two from falls down cliffs. One of the latter carried Phihp's 
 tent, which could not be recovered. The loss was an un- 
 fortunate one, but Philip did not rebuke poor Phendi, for 
 he had evidently had a trying journey and had done his 
 best. Lotzung's tent, at any rate, he hoped Esa would 
 bring safely in. 
 
 But on this point Philip was also destined to disappoint- 
 ment. Esa arrived at sunset in a worse pHght than 
 Phendi, and with only four remaining out of his ten 
 yaks. His story was that while passing through a narrow 
 
 148 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 gorge he was suddenly attacked by robbers. Four of his 
 yaks he managed to drive into a sheltered gully, while he 
 made a show of defending them with the matchlock which 
 Mantso had lent him. The rem£iining six were carried off, 
 the animal entrusted with Lotzung's tent being one of them. 
 
 Philip had no alternative but to make the best of a bad 
 business. There was httle chance of his being able to buy 
 a tent in the neighbomring village, which consisted of 
 barely half a dozen houses. Besides, the fact that such a 
 poorly dressed family should have money enough to buy 
 a tent would only rouse suspicion. Nothing remained but 
 to push along as quickly as possible and do without tents 
 as well as they could. 
 
 Accordingly at dawn the following morning Phihp once 
 more resumed his journey to Lhasa. His small caravan 
 of only twelve yaks attracted no special attention as it 
 passed through the village. Lotzung had smeared her face 
 again with the black paste, and in their homely clothing 
 they were hardly likely to be taken for anything but 
 Tibetan nomads. For this reason Philip decided to keep 
 to the main road instead of following a by-path. Some 
 time must stiU elapse before the lamas discovered they 
 had been tricked, if indeed they ever discovered it at all. 
 On the main road Philip could travel almost twice as fast 
 as on the by-roads, and with good luck he might possibly 
 reach Lhasa before the lamas between him and that city 
 could be warned to intercept him. 
 
 Accordingly the young man pushed steadily on for the 
 next six days. The weather grew worse, and the country 
 through which he passed more bleak and inhospitable. The 
 fact of having no shelter for meals or sleep beyond that 
 afforded by rocks or boulders proved a severe test of en- 
 durance. Mantso, now recovered from his fall, stood the 
 strain well ; but Esa felt the hardship of the journey more 
 
 149 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 than any one. He lost flesh rapidly, and the process had 
 a weakening instead of a hardening effect upon him. 
 Philip began to feel anxious about him. 
 
 On the seventh day they crossed the highest ridge they 
 had yet encountered, and began the descent on the further 
 side. After some two hours' journey Philip found to his 
 surprise that their path ended abruptly in a glacier. 
 
 " You must have mistaken the road," he said to Mantso. 
 
 " No, Kushok, this is the proper way." 
 
 " But how are we going to cross a slippery expanse of 
 ice like that ? " 
 
 " We shall not cross it, but slide down it." 
 
 " And the animals ? " 
 
 " They do the same. We generally send them first." 
 
 With these words Mantso drove the leading yak up to 
 the edge of the glacier. The animal knew, but did not 
 relish what lay before it, and stood hesitating on the brink, 
 pouring clouds of steam from its nostrils and swishing ner- 
 vously its long silken tail. A little forcible persuasion on 
 Mantso's part made it place its fore feet tentatively on the 
 slippery surface, and gradually work its way further on 
 till only its hind feet remained on firm land. Then, sum- 
 moning up its courage, the animal stepped briskly on to 
 the ice with all four feet and shot away down the glacier, 
 its legs stretched out wide, and turning, now head, now 
 tail foremost, according as its fore or hind legs found the 
 most slippery course. On arriving at the bottom, some 
 two or three hundred feet below, it leapt into the soft snow 
 which lay there and floundered on towards the road on the 
 further side of the glacier. 
 
 Each of the twelve yaks performed the passage in this 
 manner without mishap. Then came the men's turn. 
 Mantso took the lead. Seating himself cautiously on the 
 ice with his heels together, and using his ox goad to guide 
 
 150 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 himself, he tobogganed down the glacier in the most skilful 
 fpshion. Phendi and Esa followed, the latter not steering 
 so well as the other two. Then Philip turned to Lotzung. 
 
 " Will you go now, or shall 1 ? " 
 
 " You go first, Khangsar," she answered, laughing, and 
 without a trace of nervousness in her voice. " It is more 
 fun to watch you from here than from below." 
 
 Philip felt that he would no doubt cut a ridiculous figure, 
 but there was no help for it. Seating himself on the ice in 
 the same manner as the others, and using his riding whip 
 as a helm, he started off. But the whip did not prove 
 strong enough, or he lacked the necessary skill, for he found 
 himself gyrating like the yaks, and was finally shot head 
 foremost into the snow at the bottom of the glacier. Mantso 
 helped him out, a broad grin illuminating the muleteer's 
 good-natured countenance, while Lotzung's merry peal of 
 laughter could be heard comingdownfrom the heights above. 
 
 If the young Englishman thought it would be his turn 
 to laugh next he was mistaken. Lotzung seated herself 
 confidently on the ice, and with the aid of a short stick as 
 rudder shot swiftly and safely down the glacier. Champa 
 was the last to come, and took the longest to make up his 
 mind. After running to and fro on the edge of the glacier, 
 alternately yelping and whining to show his desire to 
 follow the others and the fear which held him back, he at 
 length jumped vigorously on to the ice, his legs shot from 
 under him, and he half rolled, half slid to the bottom, 
 emerging from the snow in a very confused and angry 
 state. No self-respecting dog likes to afford amusement to 
 his mistress and his mistress's friends. 
 
 For the first few days it seemed as if they were descend- 
 ing one of nature's giant staircases. No sooner did they 
 cover a piece of level ground than another descent appeared 
 at the further end of it. The decreased altitude, however, 
 failed to bring them a more temperate climate. A strong 
 
 151 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 westerly wind blew in their faces, cutting their skin, in- 
 flaming their eyes, and seeming to pierce their thick sheep- 
 skin garments. During this part of the journey Philip lost 
 three more yaks. Two died of exhaustion and the third 
 fell down a precipice into a foaming torrent. The loss of 
 this yak was all the more unfortunate as he carried a large 
 supply of their two chief articles of food — tsamba and 
 butter. The country through which they Were now passing 
 was almost entirely uninhabited, so that there was no 
 chance of their being able to make good the loss. Philip 
 began to think that the climate would bar his road to 
 Lhasa more effectually than the lamas themselves. 
 
 At length they reached an undulating plain, across which 
 a river ran. It was covered with a coat of ice, which 
 Mantso considered strong enough to carry the laden yaks. 
 Accordingly they were driven on to the ice one by one, a 
 wide interval being left between each of them. Eight 
 crossed safely in this manner, but the ninth, which carried 
 Esa, who was now too weak to do a full day's march, sud- 
 denly disappeared, leaving its rider clinging to the ice at 
 the edge of the hole it had made. Philip seized a rope, 
 and, crawling along on his hands and knees, got near enough 
 to throw a running noose over Esa's shoulders. He was then 
 dragged out of the hole and brought safely to the bank. 
 
 But the immersion in the icy cold water proved a great 
 shock to the weakened muleteer. His skin had taken a 
 yellow tinge, there was a glassy look in his eyes, and the 
 tears froze as they trickled down his cheeks. 
 
 " He is chilled to the bone, Kushok," said Mantso. 
 " We must halt and make a large fire, or he will not live 
 another day." 
 
 The campwas therefore pitched ontheriver bank, a big fire 
 lighted, and Esa in dry clothes placed in front of it. Here his 
 limbs were rubbed by his companions till the circulation 
 was restored; and he at length fell into a peaceful sleep. 
 
 IS2 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 A LTHOUGH Esa was a good deal better on the follow- 
 Ix. ing morning, he had not recovered sufficiently to be 
 fit for travelling. Thus twenty-four hours were wasted and 
 a proportionate amount of the caravan's rapidly diminish- 
 ing stock of provisions consumed without getting any 
 further. Next day, however, as Esa was strong enough 
 to ride a yak, the journey was continued. 
 
 In two days three more yaks succumbed, leaving only a 
 total of five. They were still a week's march from the 
 nearest village, and had not come within sjiooting distance 
 of any game, bird or beast, with which to replenish the 
 larder. The rations for each person would now have to be 
 considerably reduced, a serious matter in a climate where 
 large quantities of food are required to maintain the normal 
 heat of the body. 
 
 Pondering on this subject, Philip was j)assing through a 
 narrow defile in Mantso's wake when a volley rang out in 
 the silent air, and a score of bullets impigned against the 
 ch££ at the foot of which they marched. The first thought 
 of a traveller in Tibet when attacked by chukpas is to pro- 
 tect his cattle, for they are always shot down first. PhiUp 
 glanced at the opposite side of the ravine, from which the 
 firing came, and saw that the enemy had plenty of cover 
 behind the boulders with which it was strewn. It would 
 be useless to return their fire or attempt to cross the torrent 
 single-handed, in order to dislodge them from their posts. 
 Nothing remained but to try and find some nook where the 
 animals would be protected from the chukpas' fire. 
 
 IS3 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Accordingly Philip told Phendi to drive the yaks forward 
 as quickly as possible, while Mantso went on ahead to look 
 for a place of shelter for them. Meanwhile the enemy con- 
 tinued to fire cLS quickly as they could load and discharge 
 their matchlocks. Philip drove the first three yaks and 
 Lotzung walked at his side, while Champa galloped up and 
 down the line barking furiously, and with his hair standing 
 up in a ridge down the centre of his back. 
 
 " You are not afraid, Lotzung ? " said Philip, when he 
 found that she did not scream or try to run for shelter. 
 
 The young girl's face was pale, but she answered, with a 
 plucky little smile, " I should be afraid if you were not 
 here with that wonderful gun you carry." 
 
 As she spoke the leading yak fell down on its knees and 
 rolled on its side with a grunt, blocking with its body and 
 load the whole of the narrow path. A shout of triumph 
 came from the chukpas on the opposite side. The road 
 was obstructed, and they could now shoot down the rest 
 of the caravan at their leisure. Philip scrambled past the 
 two intervening yaks, found the first yak quite dead, with 
 a bullet through its heart. It had a valuable load of food, 
 but it would be foolish to try and save it at the cost of the 
 lives of the other yaks, if not of the human members of the 
 caravan. He therefore dragged the animal and its pack to 
 the edge of the cliff and pushed it over, so that the path was 
 once more clear. 
 
 For the next two or three hundred yards no further 
 casualties occurred, though they could not get out of range 
 of the chukpas, who clambered along the face of the oppo- 
 site cliff, firing as soon as they could reload and prime 
 their matchlocks. Mantso now reappeared some distance 
 ahead, making signals to show that he had found a suitable 
 shelter. All might yet be well, and the four remaining 
 yaks were urged forward at the best pace they could go. 
 
 154 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Unfortunately at this moment Philip heard a cry behind 
 him, and turning round saw that Phendi had fallen to the 
 ground. Running back, he found that the mukteer had 
 been shot in the shoulder. The only thing to be done was 
 to mount him on the yak which Esa rode, and which was 
 just behind Phendi at the tail of the caravan. Philip 
 helped the man to his feet and tried to lift him on to the 
 yak. But the firing had alarmed the animal, and it would 
 not stand still. Phendi could never have been mounted if 
 Lotzung had not run back and quieted the animal. When 
 it had started with its double load Philip said — 
 
 " You ought to have gone on, Lotzung, and got under 
 shelter instead of coming back here to expose yourself." 
 
 " I saw you wanted help," she answered. 
 
 "It is true, and I don't know what we could have 
 done without you. I think we shall get under cover 
 safely now." 
 
 Mantso had come back and was driving the first two yaks 
 of the caravan ; while Philip and Lotzung walked between 
 the third and the last one, which Phendi and Esa rode. The 
 shelter was close at hand when the second yak fell and 
 rolled down the cliff, pack and all. Another cry of triumph 
 came from the chukpas, who exposed themselves fearlessly 
 to lire a parting volley. But they soon had cause to repent 
 their rashness. Philip, now that port was in sight, took 
 advantage of the opportunity at length afforded him. Dis- 
 charging his magazine in quick succession, he had the satis- 
 faction of seeing two of the enemy fall headlong down the 
 ravine, while three more sank to the ground where they 
 stood. The brief fusillade had a marvellous effect, every 
 chukpa who had exposed himself speedily taking cover. 
 
 During the respite thus afforded Philip's sadly reduced 
 caravan entered the retreat, the mouth of which was almost 
 blocked by a huge mass of fallen rock. At the top of this 
 
 iSS 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 rock there was a sheltered nook, in which PhiUp took up 
 his position and fired at every puff of smoke he saw. Such 
 an effective response quickly silenced the chukpas, who did 
 not relish fighting with an enemy so 'well able to defend 
 himself. Mofe to their taste was collecting the loads from 
 the yaks that had been killed, an occupation which Philip 
 could not interrupt without exposing himself in the open. 
 This would have been an act of useless bravado, and, feehng 
 convinced that the chukpas would not attack him in his 
 present retreat, he told Mantso to mount guard while he 
 and Lotzung made a fire and dressed Phendi's wound, 
 which fortunately was not of a serious character. 
 
 When this was done Philip took stock of the remnant of 
 his caravan. Of the three yaks that remained two were so 
 badly wounded that they would have to be killed. The 
 baggage that remained consisted of rifle ammunition, 
 Philip's personal belongings, and food sufficient for only 
 two days. The nearest village was still six days distant. 
 One yak could not carry Phendi and Esa as well as the 
 baggage. What was to be done ? 
 
 The young Enghshman revolved the situation as he took 
 his turn on guard that night. The wind whistled round 
 the cliffs which formed his shelter, and the thermometer 
 registered io° of frost, but his physical discomforts were 
 unheeded in face of the problem which confronted him. 
 At length a possible but not very probable solution of his 
 difficulties occurred to him, and when relieved by Mantso 
 he fell into a sound sleep. 
 
 The following morning, after a frugal meal, Philip an- 
 nounced his plans. They had, tried to eat a portion of the 
 two yaks which had been killed the previous evening, but 
 the flesh was so lean and tough that hardly any nourish- 
 ment could be extracted from it. He had decided there- 
 fore to go in search of a nomad encampment, where he 
 
 iS6 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 could buy food and yaks to carry their baggage. He would 
 leave Mantso with one of the two remaining rifles in charge 
 of the camp. The invalids were doing well, and would be 
 all the better for a rest. Philip promised to return at latest 
 by sunset on the following day. As he started off on his 
 quest Lotzung came running after him. 
 
 " I want to go with you," she said. 
 
 " It would be a foolish thing to do," he answered. " We 
 might be attacked by chukpas, and I could not defend you 
 against them except in a sheltered spot like this camp." 
 
 " I shall be safer with you than remaining here." 
 
 " But I may have to make a long journey before I find 
 any nomads. You would not be able to bear the fatigue." 
 
 " I can walk as well as any one in the caravan now." 
 
 The young girl had certainly gained in strength and en- 
 durance since the commencement of the journey. 
 
 " But it is absurd to undergo fatigue and danger when 
 you can rest quietly in camp." 
 
 " If you will not let me walk with you I will follow at a 
 distance. I am your wife till you reach Lhasa. Was it 
 not agreed ? " 
 
 In face of such determination it was useless to deny her 
 any longer, and the two set out together, accompanied by 
 Champa. Descending the further side of the narrow pass, 
 they obtained an extensive view of the country beyond. 
 Philip scanned it anxiously to see if there were any signs of 
 nomad tents. He could detect nothing, but Lotzung, 
 whose eyes were accustomed to this kind of work, pointed 
 to the foot of a distant hill which lay to the south and said-7- 
 
 " I see some tents over there." 
 
 Philip looked in the direction indicated, and could just 
 make out what appeared to be dark boulders at the foot of 
 the hill. These might be nomad tents, which are made of 
 black yak's hair, and they started off at once towards them. 
 
 157 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Unfortunately it was a cross-country journey, without the 
 vestige of a path. Loose stones covered the ground, and 
 their course was frequently interrupted by patches of boul- 
 ders. Lotzung clambered over them in the most deter- 
 mined fashion, and Philip purposely refrained from helping 
 her, hoping she would soon get tired and decide to return 
 to camp. But the daughter of Tibet seemed to gain 
 strength by contending with the natural difficulties of her 
 native soil, and followed vigorously in Philip's steps. 
 
 At noon they halted by a little stream and ate some of 
 the balls of tsamba they had brought with them. In the 
 clear air of Tibet distances are very deceptive, and the 
 nomad tents seemed to be as far off as when they started 
 for them. Accordingly, after barely an hour's rest, they 
 set off on their way again. At three o'clock they found 
 their course barred by a large river. 
 
 " You must stay here, Lotzung," Philip said. " Find a 
 sheltered nook where you and Champa can spend the night, 
 and I will be back at the latest by noon to-morrow." 
 
 Poor Lotzung's countenance fell at once. 
 
 " Why do you want to leave me behind ? " she said. " I 
 shall be able to walk as far as you will." 
 
 " Your spirit is greater than your strength, Lotzung. 
 Besides, how are you going to cross the river ? There are 
 no yaks to help you now." 
 
 " I can swim across. I have often done it when herding 
 my father's cattle at home. See ! " 
 
 And before Philip realized what she was going to do, 
 Lotzung had run down the river bank, crashed through the 
 fringe of ice, and plunged into the stream. The young man 
 wasted no time in following her. The shock of the icy cold 
 water took away his breath and almost numbed his limbs. 
 He found himself unable to decrease the distance between 
 Lotzung and himself, and at length saw the young girl 
 
 is8 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 reach the opposite side and scramble up the bank. She 
 met him with a smile as he in his turn gained the land. 
 
 " I told you I could get across, Khangsar," she said. 
 
 Philip looked up stream to the spot on the opposite bank 
 from which they started. They had been carried down at 
 least a hundred yards. 
 
 " Yes, you can swim as well as I can," Philip admitted, 
 " and you look as fresh and warm as you were before, while 
 I feel chilled to the bone." 
 
 Lotzung said they must start off again so that exercise 
 might restore his circulation. The water froze as it dripped 
 from the edge of his heavy Mongol garment, and the icicles 
 rang with every step he took like a fringe of glass beads. 
 How it was he ever got warm again he could not tell, but 
 after a time, in spite of the biting wind, a healthy glow per- 
 vaded his skin. Perhaps they would succeed in reaching 
 the nomad encampment before sunset after all. 
 
 But PhiUp had not made due allowance for the capricious 
 character of the climate. The sky became overcast with 
 lowering clouds, and it began to snow with thickly falling 
 flakes. The view of the hill for which they were making 
 was entirely blotted out, and Philip could now only steer 
 his way by compass. The rapidity with which the snow 
 collected on the ground made walking very laborious. Now 
 they would stumble against a huge hidden stone, now they 
 sank into a drift which had collected on the lee side of a 
 boulder. Lotzung, who had hitherto held out so pluckily, 
 showed signs of fatigue, and as the daylight began to fade 
 she came to a standstill. 
 
 " You were right, Khangsar," she said in a faint voice. 
 " A girl cannot walk as far as a man. I ought to have 
 stayed in the camp as you bade me. I will wait here till you 
 come back." 
 
 What was to be done ? How could he leave her here 
 
 159 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 alone in a blinding snowstorm ? On the other hand, unless 
 he pushed on he would not get back to the camp within the 
 time he prdmised. Lotzung settled the question for him. 
 
 " Why do you wait ? " she asked. " You want the day- 
 light to find the nomad camp. Champa and I will spend 
 the night here." She pointed to a little nook on the 
 sheltered side of a large boulder. Philip saw that it was 
 the only thing to do. Champa would be company, if not 
 much protection to her. For the latter purpose he handed 
 her one of his pistols with some rounds of ammunition. 
 He had shown her how to use it, and she could shoot suffi- 
 ciently well to keep off an enemy or wild beast at close 
 quarters. Then, taking a careful note of the position, which 
 was remarkable for a curiously jagged rock on the top of 
 a small hillock, he bade her good-bye and set off by himself. 
 
 The journey was a trying one. Every few hundred yards 
 he had to stop and take his bearings by the compass to 
 make sure that he was travelhng in the right direction. 
 The heavy fall of snow made progress very difficult, and at 
 times he began to doubt whether it was of any use to per- 
 severe. Fortunately at nightfall the snow ceased, and 
 though there was no moon the stars gave sufficient light 
 for him to pick his way. He struggled on more hopefully 
 now that the storm had passed away. 
 
 But time crept on, and he seemed to get no nearer to the 
 nomad encampment. His strength began to fail him, and 
 he experienced the drowsy sensation of those who suffer 
 from exposure to the cold. He might shortly have suc- 
 cumbed to the feehng had not the sight of a faint light in 
 the distance put fresh energy into his weary limbs. The 
 nomad encampment must be at hand and he would soon 
 have food and warmth. Other lights appeared, but they 
 were shortly hidden by his descending into a hollow between 
 two hills. When he reached the summit of the second hiU 
 
 1 60 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 a bitter disappointment was in store for him. The lights 
 were still there, but they only proceeded from the dying 
 embers of camp fires, and the tents, with their owners, had 
 disappeared. 
 
 Philip realized in a moment that he had not the strength 
 to try and overtake them. This thought relaxed the little 
 energy that still remained to him, and staggering, to the 
 nearest fire he sank upon the ground in front of it. He 
 had touched nothing since his midday meal, and now drew 
 forth from the folds of his sheepskin garment one of his 
 two remaining tsamba balls. It was frozen into a solid 
 mass. The embers of the fire sufficed to thaw it, and having 
 eaten it, he lay upon the ground and fell asleep. 
 
 The following morning Philip awoke with the first faint 
 streaks of dawn. He had taken the precaution to heap 
 some argols on the dying fire, so that it was burning still. 
 Having warmed and eaten his remaining tsamba ball, he 
 took a draught of water at a small stream which ran past 
 the camping ground and set out on his return. 
 
 The storm had passed away, and the sun shone brightly 
 from a. cloudless sky. Without his reason for anxiety such 
 a morning would have raised his spirits high, but now it 
 only seemed to emphasize the gravity of his situation. 
 What would his muleteers think when they saw him return 
 with neither yaks nor food ? Unless these could be pro- 
 cured, death by starvation and exposure lay in store for all 
 of them. It would be bad enough for the men, whose occu- 
 pations called on them to run such risks. But it seemed 
 too cruel that poor Lotzung, who was not inured to the 
 hardships and perils of travel, should have to face such an 
 awful death. 
 
 At seven o'clock there was another fall of snow, but it 
 only lasted an hour, and towards nine o'clock he caught 
 sight of the jagged rock near to which he had left Lotzung 
 
 L i6i 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 on the previous evening. Quickening his pace, he reached 
 the top of the hill and came in view of the boulder under the 
 shelter of which the young girl said she would spend the 
 night. But neither Lotzung nor Champa were to be seen. 
 A feeling of uncanniness took possession of PhUip, so abso- 
 lutely silent was the spot and so devoid of any sign of life, 
 nothing but the glaring, remorseless rays of the sun upon 
 the dazzling surface of the snow. The great orb of day 
 seemed to be looking down with a mocking smile on his 
 perplexity. What could have become of Lotzung ? Philip 
 raised his eyes and saw not fifty yards distant a she-bear 
 playing with a couple of cubs on the top of a small hillock. 
 The sight made his blood run cold. Had he come too late ? 
 
 For a few moments Philip's power of will seemed para- 
 lysed. He could do nothing but stand and gaze at the she- 
 bear and her cubs as they rolled with a playful but un- 
 couth motion in the snow. What made the matter still 
 more strange was that the she-bear did not run away when 
 she became aware of his presence, but turned her bright 
 yellow eyes upon him with a look of lazy indifference. Both 
 animate and inanimate nature seemed to take no notice of 
 him. Stung into action by the animal's irritating air of 
 composure, he clubbed his rifle and strode towards her. 
 
 But the she-bear at length divined that there was trouble 
 in store for her, and calling her cubs she shuffled away 
 with them over the crest of the hillock and disappeared. 
 No good purpose could be served by pursuing and killing 
 her. It would never be known whether she was responsible 
 for the disappearance of Lotzung and her dog, for the recent 
 snow-fall would have obliterated any signs of a struggle. 
 Philip searched the immediate neighbourhood of the jagged 
 rock for an hour in vain, and then sank exhausted on the 
 ground. If Lotzung and Champa had not been killed by the 
 she- bear, it was impossible to say what had become of them. 
 
 162 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 PHILIP lay for a long time on the ground, regeurdless 
 alike of his bed of snow and of the pitiless rays of 
 the Tibetan sun. His mind was full of Lotzung's fate. He 
 now reproached himself for having left her the previous 
 evening. If he had remained with her he might have been 
 able to save her life, or at any rate he would have been 
 spared the ignominy of surviving her. Now nothing could 
 be done, and unless he committed the cowardly act of self- 
 destruction he would have to face his followers not only 
 without yaks and food, but also without the young girl in 
 whose company he had left the camp. 
 
 There is no occasion to dwell on Philip's painful journey 
 back to his caravan. That he should have been able to 
 swim the river in his exhausted state, and then to walk 
 all the intervening distance to his camp, seemed to 
 him afterwards to be Uttle short of marvellous. He did 
 not, indeed, reach his destination till dawn the following 
 morning, twelve hours later than the time he had men- 
 tioned for his return. He was then so feeble that Mantso, 
 who met him, had to assist him td gain the camp, and re- 
 frained, of course, from asking questions about the success 
 or failure of the expedition. 
 
 Although the young man was too tired to eat, his capa- 
 city for sleep had not yet deserted him, and he fell into a 
 deep and breathless slumber. Then the vigour of his youth- 
 ful constitution reasserted itself, and he awoke and asked 
 for iood. Mantso, who had anticipated the question, 
 brought him some tea and tsamba. Philip ate with a 
 ravenous appetite, and it was not tUl he had finished all 
 
 163 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 that had been set before him that he remembered the cir- 
 cumstances in which they were placed. 
 
 " How much tsamba is there left, Mantso ? " he asked. 
 
 Mantso seemed somewhat confused. 
 
 " There is a good deal yet, Kushok," he answered. 
 
 Philip looked round him and saw Phendi and Esa squat- 
 ting on the ground, the former with a marked abatement of 
 his usual melancholy, and the latter with a cheery smile. 
 
 " The invalids are better, I see," continued Philip, " but 
 they must have been living on something. Come, let me 
 see the tsamba bag." 
 
 Thus bidden, Mantso reluctantly produced it, and Philip 
 found that there remained only one more meal for each of 
 them. 
 
 " I have eaten enough for three," said Philip. " Why 
 did you not remind me, Mantso ? " 
 
 " The Kushok needed it most. Has he not been two 
 days with scarcely any food ? " 
 
 Mantso's words suddenly recalled to Philip the fact of 
 Lotzung's disappearance, and a shadow seemed to fall upon 
 the camp. 
 
 " I have told you nothing about my journey yet," said 
 Philip. " You can see for yourselves that I was unable to 
 procure either yaks or food. In addition, I lost Lotzung." 
 
 Mantso, of course, had noticed Lotzung's absence, but 
 had shrunk from making any comment to his master on 
 the fact. Now, however, that Philip had introduced the 
 subject, he said simply — 
 
 " How did it happen, Kushok ? " 
 
 Philip briefly related his experiences of the last two days, 
 Mantso and Esa listening with rapt attention ; while even 
 the melancholy Phendi displayed a fleeting interest in the 
 story. A short silence followed its conclusion, and then 
 Mantso said — 
 
 164 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " What is to be done now, Kushok ? " 
 
 Philip's first impulse was to say that it did not matter 
 now what happened. But he remembered that three men 
 still remained in his charge, and that he ought not to 
 despair tiU every effort had been made to save them. 
 Accordingly he answered — 
 
 " You, Mantso, had better go in the opposite direction 
 to, that in which I went, and see if you can find any nomads. 
 I will remain in charge of the camp." 
 
 That same morning Mantso set out on his quest, and 
 Philip mounted guard on the camp. He found it dreary 
 work; lack of active occupation being conducive to gloomy 
 thoughts. Apart from the distress he felt at Lotzung's 
 disappearance, his present position filled him with anxiety. 
 All the tsamba would be finished at their next meal, and 
 they would have nothing but the yak meat, which was so 
 tough that it was only fit for soup. One yak, indeed, still 
 remained alive, but to judge from its emaciated appearance 
 it would prove as tough as its fellow. 
 
 Mantso did not return that day, nor did any chukpas 
 show themselves. A lovely dawn ushered in the following 
 day, but fine weather will not fill an empty stomach. 
 Phendi and Esa began to feel the want of proper food, and 
 Philip's youthful constitution clamoured for something 
 more substantial than tea and soup. He almost longed for 
 the appearance of some chukpas, so as to relieve the dreary 
 monotony of his vigil. 
 
 This half- formulated wish seemed destined to a speedy 
 realization. At noon Mantso came hurrying back to camp 
 with the news that a large party of brigands were approach- 
 ing. He said that he had searched in vain for any signs 
 of a nomad camp, and that when rerentering the narrow 
 pass in which the caravan lay he found that he was being 
 followed by a large number of armed men on horseback. 
 
 165 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 They must have hidden till he returned to the pass, where 
 they reckoned on finding the caravan to which he must belong. 
 
 Philip experienced a sense of relief at Mantso's news. 
 The suspense had become intolerable, and if they had to 
 die it was better to do so fighting than by slow starvation. 
 The young man gave Mantso the other rifle and Phendi 
 and Esa a pistol each. They would account for as many 
 of the enemy as possible before they themselves were 
 killed. Then, covering the entrance to their retreat with 
 his rifle, he calmly awaited the chukpa attack. 
 
 A quarter of an hour later the first horseman made his 
 appearance along the main path at the place where the 
 by-path from their hiding-place ran into it. Philip waited 
 for him to turn down the by-path before firing at him. 
 Strange to say he did not do so, but rode on past the 
 entrance without even turning his head. Others followed, 
 and although some of them glanced casually in Philip's 
 direction, none of them looked as if they expected to see 
 any one there. What could be the explanation of it ? 
 Did they fancy that Mantso had not yet left the main path, 
 or had they merely mistaken the turning which he took ? 
 
 After a score of fully armed men on horseback had passed 
 by a number of baggage animals followed. Then came 
 another set of horsemen, not so heavily armed as the first. 
 As Philip watched them, a stout man, riding on a good 
 horse, came into view, and he recognized his late fellow- 
 traveller Purdung. His easy-going, contented appearance 
 suggested an explanation of the affair to Philip. These 
 were not chukpas, but an armed force which Purdung had 
 persuaded to escort his caravan. The young man deter- 
 mined to make himself known at once. 
 
 Clambering down from his shelter he ran towards the 
 main path, calhng Purdung by his name. His sudden 
 apparition caused a panic, and Purdung's companions 
 
 1 66 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 galloped off as hard as they could go. Purdung's horse, 
 however, became unmanageable, and, refusing to follow 
 the others, curveted about on the path with his head 
 towards Philip. The young man seized his bridle and 
 brought him to a standstill. Purdung, who evidently 
 thought he was attacked by chukpas, looked as if he 
 expected to be killed forthwith. 
 
 " Do you not remember me, Purdung ? " said Philip. 
 " I am Khangsar, the Eastern Mongol, who travelled with 
 you from Batang to Namcho." 
 
 The light of recognition gradually came into Purdung's 
 eyes, and the colour returned to his cheeks. 
 
 " I mistook you for a chukpa," he answered. " There 
 are so many in this neighbourhood. But how is it you are 
 here ? I thought they sent you back from Namcho." 
 
 Philip briefly explained how he had eluded the lamas. 
 
 " They will not trouble you now," said Purdung. " You 
 are more likely to be stopped by chukpas." 
 
 " I have already been attacked by them and lost all my bag- 
 gage animals but One, besides having a muleteer wounded." 
 
 Purdung smiled the smile of a prophet justified. 
 
 " Your gun," he said, pointing to Philip's rifle, " is a 
 good weapon, but it can be overcome by numbers. I had 
 no such gun to help me, so I journeyed very slowly, and 
 made long halts in different villages, till I was overtaken by 
 a detachment of soldiers marchitig to Lhasa. I persuaded 
 them to let me travel with them, and now I march with 
 half of their number in front of my caravan and half behind 
 it. Since I have been in their company no chukpas have 
 dared to show themselves. You must join us. Between 
 here and Lhasa no lamas will interfere with you. Where 
 are my men ? " 
 
 When Purdung's attendants, who had run away, saw 
 that he was unharmed, they came back one by one. He 
 
 167 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 abused them roundly, and told them to assist Philip's men 
 in packing their baggage. Two yaks suiSced to carry it, 
 the solitary yak that alone survived and one which Purdung 
 lent. The Tibetan merchant made his cowardly servants 
 give up their horses to Philip and his men, while they rode 
 some of the spare yaks accompanying the caravan. The 
 march was then resumed and the camp pitched at four 
 o'clock in an excellent camping-ground. Purdung insisted 
 on Philip sharing his tent, and it was not long before the 
 young Englishman and his men were enjoying the first 
 good meal they had tasted for many days. 
 
 During the rest of the journey Philip was treated with 
 great kindness by his Tibetan friend, who was of a generous 
 disposition and found pleasure in rendering assistance to 
 one who was in need of it. They now began to descend 
 to the lower country near Lhasa, and the nomad tents 
 became more numerous. Owing to the plentiful provi- 
 sions that could be purchased, and to the milder tempera- 
 ture, Phendi and Esa soon recovered their strength. A few 
 huts, mostly of mud, soon made their appearance, proving 
 that the climate admitted of people living in the district 
 all the year round, instead of having to move like the 
 nomads to warmer quarters for the winter. Then one or 
 two straggling villages were passed, and, as cultivation 
 became possible, well-made farm-houses and country resi- 
 dences. Some of these latter were substantial structures 
 of stone, with carefully tended gardens round them. 
 
 Philip gained his first view of the Mecca of Buddhism 
 on a lovely afternoon four months after leaving Ta-chien-lu. 
 The sight impressed him deeply. He had seen more 
 magnificent cities, but none which took such a strong hold 
 on his imagination. There was something altogether unique 
 in this citadel of Buddhism planted in the centre of a 
 country in such striking contrast to the land which gave 
 
 1 68 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 birth to the reUgion it upheld. It seemed at first glance 
 as if the city had dropped from the heavens into the midst 
 of a barren and inhospitable waste. Philip gazed with 
 admiration at the gilded cupolas of the temples as they 
 shone in the rays of the declining sun, and felt no wonder 
 at the spell which the city exercised on all who saw it. 
 
 It was close on sunset as they entered Lhasa by the 
 eastern gate. In spite of the guard stationed there Philip 
 passed through without a challenge, as forming part of 
 Purdung's caravan. Mantso led the way with head erect, 
 a smile of satisfaction illuminating his good-natured 
 coimtenance. He felt he had performed his task and 
 brought his master safely to the sacred city. Even in 
 Phendi's melancholy eyes a gleam of pleasure could be 
 seen, while Esa, now fully recovered from his illness, was 
 inflated with a sense of the triumph they had achieved. 
 
 Purdung had pressed Philip to put up at his house, but 
 the young man, not wishing to impose upon his friend's 
 good-natiu:e, decided to seek quarters for himself in a 
 secluded portion of the town. The Tibetan merchant, 
 seeing that he was not to be shaken in this resolve, offered 
 to find the lodgings he required. As the sun set the lamas 
 blew their trumpets and conches from the gates of the 
 various temples. This was the signal for everybody to 
 cease from the occupation in which he was engaged and 
 join in the evening prayer. Women mounted to the house- 
 tops, and, burning juniper branches, began to chant the 
 evensong in their clear, melodious voices. The men, 
 standing at the doorways or in groups at the corners of the 
 streets, added their deep tones to the women's trebles, 
 making altogether a most impressive evening service. At 
 its conclusion every one resumed his interrupted occupa- 
 tion, and Purdung's caravan, which had halted, moved on 
 towards its destination. 
 
 169 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 It was not long before the Tibetan merchant found some 
 comfortable quarters for his friend, and parted with him 
 for the night, saying that he would come and show him some- 
 thing of the city on the following morning. Philip's two yaks 
 were accommodated in the yard, and he was conducted by 
 the owner of the house to a couple of rooms on the second 
 floor, the first floor being already let, though the tenants 
 were away. Mantso carried his master's goods up to his 
 rooms, and soon managed not only to get things in order, but 
 to cook a tempting supper as well. This was the first 
 night they had spent under a roof since leaving the village 
 in which Philip's marriage with Lotzung had taken place. 
 
 It was poor Lotzung's absence that alone detracted from 
 Philip's satisfaction at having gained the goal of his long 
 journey. Unfortunately he did not know the name of the 
 uncle with whom she had told him she would reside on 
 reaching Lhasa. Phala's friend Rashwa, however, to 
 whom he had a letter of introduction, would perhaps be 
 able to give him the name and address of this uncle, 
 Accordingly, after breakfast on the following morning, 
 Philip sent Mantso to find Rashwa's house, and to ask when 
 he could grant him an interview. Mantso returned with 
 the news that Rashwa was on a visit to some friends not 
 far from Lhasa, but was expected back in the course of a 
 week or ten days. 
 
 There was much to interest Phihp till Rashwa's return. 
 Purdung called for him about nine o'clock, and took him 
 through the city. After walking along the principal streets 
 they set out for the Potala or Dalai Lama's palace; Although 
 about a mile from the town it could be seen from any part, 
 being built on a rock rising sheer out of the ground to a 
 height of some seven hundred feet. The structure was of 
 stone, and so well whitewashed that when the sun shone 
 upon it the effect was almost dazzling. Philip longed to 
 
 170 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 have an audience with the Dalai Lama, but refrained from 
 asking the good offices of Purdung for the purpose. Rashwa 
 would probably be able to obtain an interview for him if 
 any one could/and it would be foolish to imperil his chances 
 by applying to a man who had not equal influence. 
 
 On returning to the city Purdung took Philip into the 
 principal Buddhist temple. The resemblance between the 
 Lamaist and Roman Catholic ritual was very striking — the 
 chanting of the monks, the incense, and the gorgeous vest- 
 ments. In one respect, however, there was a radical differ- 
 ence between the two services. Whereas in Roman Catholic 
 churches women usually form the majority of the congrega- 
 tion, in this Buddhist temple there were no women to be 
 seen at all. In the Buddhist rehgion men alone possess 
 souls to be saved, and the gates of heaven are shut to women. 
 
 But if the fair sex were excluded from the temples there 
 were plenty of them to be seen in the streets. Indeed, the 
 population of Lhasa seems to consist chiefly of monks and 
 women. The former pervaded eVery quarter of the city, 
 swarming round the Potala, going in and out of the temples 
 and lamaseries telling their beads, and twirling their prayer- 
 cylinders in every street in the town. Their demeanour in 
 pubhc was certainly beyond reproach. On meeting women 
 they turned away their heads or cast their eyes upon the 
 ground. It is true that the temptation to do otherwise was 
 not very great, for the majority of women daubed themselves 
 with the black paste ordained, it is said, by a lamaist re- 
 former, to prevent them luring the hearts of the monks 
 away from their profession. A certain number of women 
 disregarded the ordinance, but these belonged to the upper 
 classes, who were not so much fettered by lamaist tyranny. 
 
 As Purdung and Philip were walking down the main 
 street loud cries and the cracking of whips attracted their 
 attention. Turning round they saw a long procession 
 
 171 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 overtaking them from the direction of the Potala, and heard 
 that the Senior Chinese Amban, escorted by the Regent, 
 was returning from an audience with the Dalai Lama. The 
 Senior Amban was, of course, Tuen Fang, the mandarin who 
 had flogged Mantso at Ta-chien-lu, and whom Phala had 
 treated so cavalierly at the village of Namcho. It was to 
 Philip's interest to avoid encountering this mandarin, but 
 he was curious to see the Regent of Tibet, and drew Pur- 
 dung into a doorway, from which he could watch the pro- 
 cession without being at all conspicuous himself. 
 
 Half a dozen Tibetan policemen with long whips cleared 
 the course, and were followed by a body of Tibetan cavalry. 
 Then came the Regent, accompanied by a retinue of 
 Tibetan noblemen. The Regent, a man of nearly sixty 
 years of age, showed great power and determination in 
 his face, and would have excited Philip's admiration but 
 for a look of cruelty and cunning in his small black eyes. 
 Behind the Regent rode a number of Chinese officials 
 belonging to the Amban's staff, their gorgeous robes in 
 strong contrast to their yellow faces and feeble frames. 
 Next came the Senior Amban, Tuen Fang, carried in a 
 palanquin with four bearers. He was leaning back on his 
 cushions, and Philip only caught a momentary glimpse of 
 his puffy, sensuous face. 
 
 The procession ended with a body of Chinese and Tibetan 
 retainers of the Amban walking on foot. Amongst the 
 latter there was a face which Philip knew. It was Jasi, 
 the muleteer who had betrayed him. How had he entered 
 the service of the Amban ? His former masters, the lamas, 
 may have required him no more, and procured him a post 
 in Tuen Fang's household. In any case it would not do for 
 Philip to be seen by him, and the young Englishman shrank 
 back into the shadow of the doorway till the group of re- 
 tainers had passed by. 
 
 172 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 F'OR the next few days Philip did not venture out in 
 the daytime lest Jasi should chance to meet him and 
 give information to the authorities. When Purdung came 
 to see him and proposed a walk he complained of indispo- 
 sition. It would have been unwise to tell the Tibetan mer- 
 chant that he had seen the man who had in all probability 
 denounced him to the lamas of Namcho and who had un- 
 doubtedly prepared a second trap for him. Purdung was 
 a pleasant companion, but his friendship could hardly be 
 expected to bear the strain of association with a man who 
 might at any time be driven out of the city. 
 
 A week passed in this manner, but no action was taken 
 against Philip. Jasi was evidently a member of Tuen 
 Fang's household now, and as long as Philip did not ap- 
 proach the Amban's palace the risk of meeting the muleteer 
 was not very great. He therefore began to go out in the 
 daytime again, and resumed his walks with Purdung. 
 
 It was during one of these that Mantso, whom he had 
 left in charge of his rooms, came running full speed after 
 him. 
 
 " What is the matter, Mantso ? " Philip asked. 
 
 Mantso glanced at Purdung and then said — 
 
 " May I speak to you alone, Kushok ? " 
 
 Philip asked Purdung to excuse him, and went aside 
 with Mantso. 
 
 As soon as Purdung was out of earshot Mantso said — 
 
 " The Khalons * have sent an official with two soldiers 
 
 ♦ Magistrates. 
 173 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 to take you to them. When he found that you were not 
 in he bade me go and find you." 
 
 Phihp saw that Jasi must have caught sight of him and 
 informed against him. It was fortunate that Purdung had 
 not heard what Mantso said, for it would have alarmed him 
 considerably. As it was, Philip merely told him that he 
 had to go home, as some one wanted to see him, and they 
 parted without the Tibetan merchant having any suspicion 
 of the character of Philip's visitors. 
 
 When the young man reached his rooms he found the 
 Khalons' official and his two soldiers in possession, awaiting 
 his return. On seeing him the official produced a document 
 and said — 
 
 " You are the Eastern Mongol who goes by the name of 
 Khangsar ? " 
 
 Philip acknowledged that this was so. 
 
 " I have a summons for you to appear at the Khalons' 
 court." 
 
 " On what charge ? " asked Philip. 
 
 " That of failing to report yourself to the authorities 
 when you entered the city." 
 
 Philip saw that it would be useless to plead ignorance 
 of the custom, and merely replied that he was ready. The 
 two soldiers marched out of the room and drew up on either 
 side of the door. Philip followed, accompanied by the 
 official. As he left the room the young man told Mantso 
 to take care of it till his return. 
 
 " The Khalons will want to see your servant also," said 
 the official. " But do not be alarmed about your room. 
 I have the key and will lock it up securely." 
 
 As soon as Mantso had crossed the threshold the key 
 was turned and the party descended to the courtyard. On 
 gaining the street one of the soldiers led the way, Philip 
 and the official followed, and Mantso with the second 
 
 174 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 soldier brought up the rear. As he went Philip speculated 
 on the nature of the inquiry which was about to take place, 
 and what penalty would be imposed if it were proved that 
 he was the same man whom the lamas had ordered back 
 from Namcho. He had always heard that suspected 
 persons met with short shrift in Lhasa. If only Rashwa 
 had returned and Philip could have handed him Phala's 
 letter of introduction, he WQuld have had some one to speak 
 in his favour. As it was it would be very difficult to dispel 
 any suspicions which attached to him. 
 
 Meanwhile a number of young children began to follow 
 the procession which was wending its way to the Khalons' ' 
 court, and notoriety of that kind was what Philip was par- 
 ticularly anxious to avoid. Fortunately it was the hour 
 of the midday meal, so that the adults who followed were 
 comparatively few. Philip was relieved when at length 
 they reached the court-house, and he was conducted into 
 an ante-room, whilst the official entered the court to an- 
 nounce the arrival of the suspect. 
 
 They did not keep him waiting long. The official re- 
 appeared, and, holding open the door, njotioned for Philip 
 and Mantso to enter the court. On doing so Philip found 
 himself in a spacious apartment, the roof supported by 
 liandsome pillars and with a rectangular hole in the centre 
 to admit the light and air. At the further end of the court 
 the judges sat on cushions on a dais. Only three were 
 present, an unoccupied pile of cushions being evidently the 
 seat of the foiu-th Khalon. They were dressed in costumes 
 of rich silk, and in front of each of them in the body of the 
 court sat a secretary, with a roll of papers on the desk 
 before him. Each Khalon had a tea bowl at his side, an 
 attendant with a teapot refiUing it when empty. No 
 ceremony — ^social, legal, or religious — can be carried on in 
 Tibet without the assistance of tea. 
 
 175 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Philip did not know whether he was expected to prostrate 
 himself before the magistrates as a Tibetan of the middle 
 or lower class would have done. In his character of an 
 Eastern Mongol he decided to forego a custom against 
 which his English blood revolted. Mantso, however, made 
 full amends for his master's remissness in this particular, 
 and, falling on his knees, struck the floor with his fore- 
 head three times in obeisance to each of the Khalons. 
 While he was doing so Philip scanned the faces of his 
 judges. They appeared to be clever, capable men, far 
 superior to the ordinary Chinese mandarin. The centre 
 Khalon motioned him to take a seat on some cushions in 
 the body of the court, and began the examination. 
 
 " How long have you been in Lhasa ? " he asked. 
 
 " A little over fourteen days," replied Philip. 
 
 " Then why have you not reported yourself to us earlier?" 
 
 " I am a stranger to your city and did not know the 
 custom." 
 
 " We do not welcome strangers in this country," said 
 the Khalon on the left. " You cannot have travelled 
 through it without learning that." 
 
 The Khalon looked at him sternly as he spoke. Perhaps 
 Jasi had betrayed him to this man. Philip felt that he 
 must be careful how he answered, for the Ladaki might be 
 produced at any moment to contradict his statements. 
 Accordingly he said — 
 
 " Any one who visits Tibet sees that your countrymen 
 will not brook interference on the part of foreigners." 
 
 The Khalon on the right, who had hitherto made no 
 remark, now nodded approvingly and said — 
 
 " This man has not misread our national character, it 
 seems." 
 
 " But that is not the point," rejoined the Khalon on the 
 left. " It is not a question whether we allow foreigners to 
 
 176 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 interfere with our affairs, but whether they are to be ad- 
 mitted into this country at all without a proper permit. 
 Where is your passport ? " he added, turning to Phihp. 
 
 It was an awkward question, and one which Philip had 
 feared might be asked at any moment. 
 
 " I have no passport," he answered. " I did not know 
 that it was necessary." 
 
 The Khalon who spoke gave his brother judges a signifi- 
 cant look, as much as to say that this statement only con- 
 firmed the suspicions which he entertained^ 
 
 " It is strange that you should have come all this distance 
 through Tibet," he continued, " and not have heard that 
 foreigners who travel without passports are regarded with 
 suspicion. Very few succeed in reaching Lhasa. Our 
 lamas in the distant provinces keep a careful watch, and 
 refuse to let those whom they suspect proceed. Did you 
 not find it so ? " 
 
 It seemed almost certain that this Khalon had received 
 information from Jasi. Was it worth while fencing any 
 longer, or should he give the struggle up ? PhiUp decided 
 on the bolder course and answered — 
 
 " I foimd that the suspicions of your lamas were easUy 
 aroused, but I did nothing to deserve them, having no wish 
 to do your country harm. One of your own citizens, who 
 holds a high position in Lhasa, can speak for me." 
 
 " Is he in eourt now ? " 
 
 " Unfortunately he is absent from Lhasa at the present 
 time." 
 
 The hostile Khalon gave his brothers another glance 
 expressive of the confirmation of his views, and then con- 
 tinued — 
 
 " We have reason to believe that you are the same man 
 whom the lamas at Namcho ordered to return to China. 
 Is that so ? " 
 
 M J77 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 It was useless to maintain the struggle any longer. The 
 Khalon knew everything, and if Philip denied his identity 
 with the man whom the Namcho lamas had sent back, Jasi 
 would be called in to disprove his statement. But a diver- 
 sion was now created by the entrance of the fourth Khalon. 
 As soon as he had taken his seat the Khalon who was 
 examining Philip turned to explain the case to the new 
 arrival. 
 
 " We have a foreigner here," he said, " whom we have 
 good reason to believe was ordered to leave the country 
 by the lamas of Namcho, but he disobeyed the order. 
 It is a serious matter, and his punishment should be 
 severe." 
 
 Philip watched the fourth Khalon keenly whilst these 
 words were being spoken. He had a clever, well-shaped 
 head, clear dark eyes, and a very pleasant expression. 
 
 " I suppose you have ample proof that he is the man 
 you take him to be. What have you got to say in your 
 defence ? " he continued, turning to Philip. 
 
 " I have nothing to say in my defence," answered PhiUp, 
 " because I have done nothing wrong. The writer of this 
 letter will no doubt bear witness to my character, though 
 the person to whom it is addressed, being absent from 
 Lhasa, cannot vouch for me himself." 
 
 With these words Philip rose from his seat and handed 
 Phala's letter of introduction to the new-comer. The latter 
 glanced at the name on the outside, fixed his keen gaze for 
 a few seconds on Philip, and then, opening the letter, ran 
 his eye quickly over the contents. When he had read 
 them he turned to the other Khalons and said — 
 
 " This man may possibly be as honest as he says. I 
 know the person to whom the letter is addressed and will 
 hand it to him on his return to Lhasa. Meanwhile I think 
 we might let the foreigner go, merely keeping a watch upon 
 
 178 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 his movements so that we can have him brought before us 
 again when we require him." 
 
 The hostile Khalon seemed to demur to this proposal, 
 but the other two agreed to it, and Philip was told that he 
 and his servant might go. At this announcement Mantso 
 fell upon his knees and kow-towed to the four Khalons with 
 much < fervour, being particularly demonstrative in his 
 obeisance to the last arrival. 
 
 Having reached his rooms Philip reviewed the situation 
 at his leisure. Things had certainly looked unpleasant for 
 him at one time, and if Jasi h^d been sent for the verdict 
 would have almost certainly gone against him. But the 
 fourth Khalon had just appeared at the right moment and 
 relieved the threatening atmosphere. It was certainly 
 curious that, having opened and read the letter himself, 
 he did not divulge its contents to his brother judges. In 
 any case Philip had obtained a reprieve, and was incUned 
 to regard the future hopefully, as he had been much struck 
 by the noble bearing and kindly expression of the Khalon 
 who had taken up his case. 
 
 That evening, as Mantso was laying his master's supper, 
 he could not refrain from alluding to the proceedings in 
 the Khalons' court. 
 
 " I marvelled at the Kushok's calm," he said. " I was 
 trembling all the time*" 
 
 " What was there to be afraid of ? " Philip asked. 
 
 " The Kushok does not know how powerful these Khalons 
 are and what punishnients they can mete out." 
 
 " They could not punish me for merely coming to Lhasa ; 
 and as for you, it is your own country, and you can go where 
 you Uke in it." 
 
 " Yes,, but if a man displeases the lamas, they persuade 
 the Khalons to punish him. I know the Khalon who asked 
 so many questions, and he is a harsh man. The Khalon 
 
 179 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 who came last I do not know, but I think he will take the 
 Kushok's part." 
 
 " I hope he will, Mantso," replied Philip cheerfully. 
 " But make haste and get my supper served. A visit to 
 your Tibetan courts has made me hungry." 
 
 For a suspect in the town of Lhasa Philip made a capital 
 meal. Food was good, though dear in the town, and Mantso 
 with practice was becoming a capital cook. After dinner 
 the young man was settling down to read a Tibetan book 
 in order to improve his knowledge of the language, when he 
 heard some one ascending the stairs. There was a brief 
 exchange of words with Mantso and then the latter, open- 
 ing the door, ushered the visitor in with these words — 
 
 " This man says he has a message for you from Rashwa." 
 
 So Rashwa had at last returned, and the friendly Khalon 
 must have given him Philip's letter as well as Philip's 
 address. 
 
 " What is your message ? " the young man asked. 
 
 " My master, Rashwa, has sent me to conduct you to his 
 house." 
 
 The invitation was a welcome one, and, laying aside his 
 book, Philip rose and accompanied the messenger. Rashwa 
 would no doubt soon put matters all right with the Khalons. 
 He would also in all probability give the name and address 
 of the uncle with whom Lotzung had said she would stay 
 in Lhasa, so that he could tell him of her disappearance, 
 and get information as to the best means of letting her 
 parents know the fact. 
 
 On reaching the house Philip was conducted by an 
 attendant through an ante-room into a fine apartment. 
 The attendant, after placing cushions for him to sit upon, 
 withdrew, and the young man was left alone to inspect his 
 surroundings at his leisure. The room was lighted with 
 butter lamps, and a desk with writing materials stood at 
 
 189 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the further end of it. The thick carpet and rich silk hang- 
 ings showed that the owner of the house was a man of con- 
 siderable means. 
 
 Whilst he was engaged in this inspection a side door 
 opened and, to Philip's surprise, there appeared not Rashwa, 
 but the friendly Khalon. He advanced with a pleasant 
 smile, and, motioning Philip^ to a seat at the end of the 
 room where the desk stood, sat down beside him. Then, 
 as his visitor was too much surprised to speak, he said — 
 
 " What is it that you wish me to do for you ? " 
 
 " I have no request to make of you," answered Philip. 
 " I came here because I was told that Rashwa wished to 
 see me. Is he in the house ? " 
 
 The Khalon smiled quietly. 
 
 " Yes, he is in the house and is talking to you now." 
 
 Philip looked at him in astonishment. 
 
 " Then the letter which I handed you in court to-day 
 was for yourself." 
 
 " I saw that you did not know who I was, and there was 
 no occasion to tell you then. Neither had I any reason to 
 divulge the contents of the letter to the other Khalons. 
 The truth is that Phala was at variance with the authorities 
 here in the matter of politics, and it would be unwise to 
 make it known that he is corresponding with any one 
 resident in Lhasa." 
 
 " The Deba hinted to me that he had been driven from 
 the town by the action of his political opponents, and I 
 now understand why you kept the letter secret. You are 
 still his friend ? " 
 
 " I am, and I will do all I can for yoti if you will be 
 candid with me. Jn the first place, is it true that the lamas 
 of Namcho ordered you to return to China ? " 
 
 " Quite true." 
 
 " Does any one in Lhasa know this ? " 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " A Ladaki, named Jasi, who was in my employment as 
 a muleteer and who afterwards deserted, is aware of it. 
 I think he must have informed the Khalons." 
 
 " What is he doing now ? " 
 
 " I have only seen him once since I have been in Lhasa. 
 He was then amongst the attendants of the Senior Chinese 
 Amban." 
 
 " The probability that he has already given information 
 against you to my brother Khalons makes it a difficult 
 matter to deal with. However, as he is a Tibetan, I dare 
 say I shall find a means of making him hold his tongue, in 
 spite of his being in the service of the Chinese Amban. Is 
 there anything more that I can do for you ? " 
 
 Philip remembered Lotzung's uncle. 
 
 " There is one more favour I have to ask you," he said. 
 " You are probably aware that the Deba of Namcho had 
 a daughter called Lotzung ? " 
 
 " I know her well," rephed Rashwa. 
 
 " She set out to accompany me on my journey to Lhasa." 
 
 " There is no mention of the fact in Phala's letter to me." 
 
 " The letter was written before he heard that she had 
 made up her mind to come to Lhasa. She was anxious to 
 see her brother, who resides here." 
 
 " Has she told you all about this brother ? " 
 
 " Nothing except that he lives in Lhasa. She said she 
 had an uncle here with whom she could stay. Her plan 
 for getting to Lhasa was to come as somebody's wife." 
 
 The Khalon smiled. 
 
 " Whom did she select for her husband ? " 
 
 " Well, her choice fell on me," replied Philip, somewhat 
 ernbarrassed at having to make the avowal. " A number 
 of young girls married me to her in a grove outside a small 
 village on the road. I informed her father of the fact, but 
 he said that as the marriage had been duly celebrated he 
 
 1S2 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 could do nothing in the matter. I was on the point of 
 repudiating the contract when Lotzung begged me to take 
 her as my wife to Lhasa, after which she promised to release 
 me from my bond with regard to her. Do you know 
 her uncle ? " 
 
 " I know him very well. You wish, I suppose, to put 
 Lotzung under his care ? " 
 
 " Unfortunately, no. During the journey the young 
 girl disappeared, killed, I am afraid, by bears." And Philip 
 gave Rashwa an account of the circumstances under which 
 she had been lost. 
 
 " Well, there will be time enough to attend to this matter 
 to-morrow," said the Khalon, who seemed to regard the 
 affair very lightly. " Meanwhile you must come and see 
 my wife and family," and he led the way to the door by 
 which he had entered the room. Throwing it open, he 
 stood aside for PhUip to pass through. But the young man 
 came to a standstill on the threshold, for with Rashwa's 
 family sat Lotzung, bending over a hand-loom at which 
 she worked, while Champa lay full length on the floor at 
 her feet. 
 
 183 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 LOTZUNG made a charming picture as she turned 
 ^ her loom, the light pink costume of rich silk, in 
 which she was dressed, throwing into relief her dark hair 
 and eyes. Her complexion was less sunburnt than when 
 Philip saw her last, and her expression was a shade more 
 thoughtful. But these changes did not detract from her 
 appearance, and the young man found himself wondering 
 how he had hitherto failed to realize what a pretty girl she 
 was. 
 
 There was no time, however, for reflection on the subject, 
 as the opening of the door caused Lotzung to look up. , On 
 seeing Philip her expression was one of the utmost 
 astonishment, but when she realized who it was, she ran 
 up to him with the natural impulse of a child, and taking 
 both his hands in hers she said — 
 
 " So it is really you, Khangsar ? I feared that you were 
 dead." 
 
 " And I, for my part, had given you up as lost. So 
 then," he continued, turning to Rashwa, who had followed 
 him into the room, " you are the uncle of whom Lotzung 
 spoke to me ? " 
 
 Rashwa smiled at the success of the surprise he had 
 planned for Philip. 
 
 " Yes, I am the uncle," he answered, " and this is my. 
 wife, Gyung." 
 
 Philip exchanged greetings with Gyung, a handsome 
 woman with a boy on either side of her. 
 
 " You had a letter to my husband from my brother 
 
 184 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Phala, the Deba of Namcho," she said. " My brother's 
 friends are my friends, and you have been kind to my 
 niece Lotzung. She has told me that you agreed to let her 
 travel with you as your wife till she should reach Lhasa in 
 safety. She is a good girl and very useful in the house. 
 You have not come to take her away ? " 
 
 " No, he does not want me as his wife," interposed Lot- 
 zung. " I only persuaded him to let me be called so till 
 we should get to the end of the journey. Was it not so ? " 
 she added, turning to Philip. 
 
 " That is what we agreed upon," replied the young man, 
 a little piqued at Lotzung's ready renunciation of her 
 marriage ties. " But tell me how you got here, Lotzung ? " 
 he continued. " When I returned to the place where I 
 left you I could find no trace of you, and seeing some bears 
 close to the spot I thought they must have killed you." 
 
 In reply to PhiUp's question the young girl gave the 
 following account of what had happened to her since they 
 parted. When she awoke the morning after Philip had 
 left her she went to the top of a neighbouring hill, and 
 was surprised to see no traces of the nomad encampment. 
 She wondered if it had disappeared before Philip reached 
 the spot or whether its menibers had carried him off with 
 them. The distance to the spot where the encampment 
 had been was not great, and Philip could easily have 
 got back by dawn as he promised, unless something had 
 happened to him. 
 
 When eight o'clock came she was making up her mind to 
 go in search of him when she saw some figures approaching 
 from a point to the eastward of the site of the nomad 
 encampment. Thinking that Philip had overtaken the 
 nomads and was returning with some yaks, which the men 
 were driving for him, she set out to meet him. To her 
 great disappointment Philip was not amongst them, but 
 
 i8s 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 she recognized in the chief of the caravan a lama who came 
 from a monastery not far from her father's house. 
 
 This lama knew her at once and asked her how she came 
 to be there all by herself, so far from her home. She re- 
 plied that she had beeil travelling with a caravan bound 
 for Lhasa, but that it had been robbed by chukpas, and the 
 chief had gone in search of a nomad encampment from 
 which to buy more food and cattle. There were no nomads 
 in sight, and the lama, evidently not believing her story, 
 said that "she must join his caravan, as he, too, was bound 
 for Lhasa. On her replying that she preferred to wait for 
 the chief of her caravan, one of the lama's companions 
 asked what he was like and how he was dressed. As soon 
 as he heard Lotzung's description he declared they had 
 seen such a man being driven along by a party of nomads 
 with his hands tied behind him. He gave such a minute 
 account of the affair, and was so unanimously supported 
 by the others, that Lotzung had no alternative but to believe 
 the story and accompany the lama's caravan. They had 
 good cattle and carried very little baggage, so that the 
 journey was accomplished quickly. 
 
 By the time that Philip had in his turn given an account 
 of his adventures after parting with Lotzung it was quite 
 late, and the young man rose to go. 
 
 " You must often come and see us," said Rashwa, as he 
 bade his guest good-bye. " The evening is the best time. 
 There are many questions I should Hke to ask a man who 
 has stayed so lately with my wife's brother, the Deba of 
 Namcho." 
 
 Phihp had plenty to occupy his thoughts when he re- 
 turned to his lodging that night. He remembered that 
 Lotzung had never mentioned her uncle's name to him, or 
 he would have known that Phala's friend and the young 
 girl's uncle were the same person. Rashwa was evidently 
 
 i86 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 an influential man, to whom it was fortunate to have an 
 introduction. The Khalons came next in authority to the 
 Regent, and Rashwa seemed to be the most powerful of 
 the four. If a way were found to shut Jasi's mouth 
 Philip might reside in Lhasa with little likelihood of 
 interference. 
 
 The young man's chief desire now was to obtain an 
 audience with the Dalai Lama, and Rashwa was the person 
 whom he thought most likely to assist him in the matter. 
 Accordingly a few days later he called on the chief Khalon, 
 which he now found was Rashwa's proper title. 
 
 " I want to have an audience with the Dalai Lama," he 
 said, " and thought you might, perhaps, be able to arrange 
 it for me." 
 
 Rashwa looked grave. 
 
 " This is a matter for the Regent," he replied. " The 
 list of those who wish to see the Dalai Lama must be sub- 
 mitted to him." 
 
 " I am glad of that," said Philip. " The Regent knows 
 nothing against me and would have no reason to refuse 
 my application. It would have been otherwise with the 
 Chinese Amban. I interfered with Tuen Fang in Ta-chien- 
 lu, when he was flogging a man, who afterwards became 
 my servant. Though he would not know my name he 
 would probably recognize my face." 
 
 " But it is because the Regent has to be consulted when 
 seeking an audience with the Dalai Lama that I cannot 
 undertake this service for you." 
 
 Philip's hopes fell at once to zero. His powerful friend, 
 the chief Khalon, failed him in just the very matter in which 
 he had felt sure of his assistance. Of course, the young 
 man could not ask the reason for his refusal, and a silence 
 ensued which Rashwa broke at length. 
 
 " But because I can do nothing for you in this matter 
 
 187 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 there is no reason why you should not get some one else to 
 help you. Have you no other acquaintance in Lhasa ? " 
 
 Philip remembered Purdung, 
 
 " There is a merchant named Purdung with whom I 
 travelled part of the way to Lhasa." 
 
 " I know him well. He will be able to do what you want. 
 It is not a difficult matter." 
 
 There the subject dropped, and a little later they joined 
 the family circle, playing games and singing to the accom- 
 paniment of various instruments. Champa alone did not 
 seem to enjoy the music, and as he lay stretched full length 
 upon the floor, his muzzle between his two fore feet, he 
 would now and again cast a distressful eye upon the per- 
 formers, emitting a whine of expostulation when the cres- 
 cendo parts were rendered with more vehemence than he 
 could bear. 
 
 Once during the evening, when Rashwa and Gyung were 
 playing a duet, the former with a flute and the latter with 
 a stringed instrument, Philip found an opportunity of 
 speaking a few words with Lotzung which the others could 
 could not hear. 
 
 " Have you accomplished the object, Lotzung, for which 
 you were so anxious to come to Lhasa ? " he asked. 
 
 " What object do you mean ? " she answered. 
 
 " Have you forgotten that you told me that your reason 
 for wishing to come here was to see your brother ? " 
 
 Lotzimg put her finger to her lips to silence him, and 
 glanced quickly at her uncle and aunt. They were both 
 too intent upon their performance to notice what was 
 going on around them, Rashwa staring straight ahead of 
 him as he puffed out his cheeks and produced strange 
 noises from his flute, while Gs^ung's attention was fuUy 
 engaged with the fingering of the stringed instrument she 
 played. 
 
 1 88 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " You must not let them hear you mention him," 
 said Lotzimg in a low voice, nodding her head in their 
 direction. 
 
 This brother seemed to have a bad name everywhere, 
 thought Philip. Not only had his parents disowned him, 
 but his imcle and aunt would have nothing to do with him. 
 What had this lad of fourteen done to make his relations 
 refrain from speaking of him ? Philip's interest in the 
 family scapegrace grew deeper still. 
 
 " So you have not seen him, after all ? " 
 
 " Yes, I have seen him, but only once. It is very diffi- 
 cult to arrange a meeting." 
 
 " How is he getting on ? " 
 
 Lotzung shook her head. 
 
 " The future is clouded for him. I see no chance " 
 
 But at this moment the music ceased abruptly, cutting 
 short Lotzung's sentence, and Philip did not get another op- 
 portunity that night of a private conversation with her. The 
 youthful brother, however, continued to engage his thoughts 
 after leaving Rashwa's house. Why should it be so diffi- 
 cult for Lotzung to arrange a meeting with him, considering 
 the Uberty allowed to Tibetan girls, and the fact that she 
 could go out unattended any hour of the day up to nine or 
 ten o'clock at night ? Why, too, did she speak so gloomily 
 of his future ? Was he already, at the tender age of four- 
 teen, so hardened a reprobate that even an affectionate 
 sister saw no chance of his reformation ? Philip's curiosity 
 was aroused, though there was little prospect of its being, 
 gratified unless Lotzung herself should volunteer the infor- 
 mation. 
 
 The following day, anxious to lose no time in visiting 
 the Potala, Philip called on Purdung. The Tibetan mer- 
 chant received him with his customary warmth, and when 
 they had sat down with a supply of " chang" (the beer of 
 
 189 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the country) between them, Philip referred to the object of 
 his call. 
 
 " I have come to ask you to obtain for me an audience 
 with the Dalai Lama." 
 
 Purdung became thoughtful. 
 
 " I suppose you have not roused the suspicions of the 
 lamas since you have been in Lhasa ? " he asked at length. 
 
 Philip determined to be open with him. 
 
 " I have had no dealings with the lamas ; but a few days 
 ago the Khalons summoned me to their court." 
 
 " Ah ! " exclaimed Purdung, in a tone which made it 
 clear that he thought it a serious matter. " And what did 
 they say to you ? " 
 
 " There were only three of them present at first, and 
 they were inclined to be unfriendly, but when the chief 
 Khalon came he took my part." 
 
 Purdung seemed considerably relieved. 
 
 "If Rashwa is on your side you are not likely to meet 
 with interference. He has a great deal of influence amongst 
 the citizens of Lhasa. But why do you not ask him to 
 obtain the audience for you ? " 
 
 " I have asked him, and he said he would rather not do 
 so." 
 
 There was a short silence, and then Purdung said — 
 
 " I suppose it is because application has to be made to 
 Tsering, the Regent. Rashwa is the only man in Lhasa 
 who has had the courage to openly oppose him, and that 
 is why he does not care to ask any favour of him." 
 
 " In what respect does he oppose the Regent ? " 
 
 " As this is your first visit to Lhasa you are of course 
 unacquainted with our political affairs. I will give you 
 a Httle information about them, which may perhaps be 
 useful to you. In the first place, the present Dalai Lama 
 is the third for whom Tsering has acted as Regent." 
 
 190 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " Is that against the law ? " asked Philip. 
 
 " No, but it seems that both the previous Dalai Lamas 
 died before they came of age." 
 
 " It was a mere matter of chance, I suppose." 
 
 " That is the question. It was of course to Tsering's 
 interest that they should die before they came of age, so 
 that he might become Regent to the successor." 
 
 " Is it suggested then that he did away with them ? " 
 
 Purdimg nodded his head. 
 
 The possibility of such an infamous crime gave Philip 
 pause. To find a European parallel it would be necessary 
 to go back at least to the Middle Ages. 
 
 " Do Tibetans then allow," he asked at length, " the 
 Head of their Church to be sacrificed to the ambitions of 
 a wicked Regent ? " 
 
 " Tsering's connection with the crime would be difficult 
 to prove. The Regent has sole charge of the Dalai Lama, 
 and all the attendants are chosen by him. He is the most 
 powerful man in the state." 
 
 " Yet Rashwa is both popular and influential, you say ? " 
 
 " Amongst the laymen ; but Tsering has at his back the 
 ten thousand lamas of Sera Monastery, of which he was 
 Abbot before becoming Regent. He favours them in 
 every possible way, and they would not let hum be deposed." 
 
 " Are not the citizens of Lhasa, led by the chief Khalon, 
 a match for the Regent and his monks ? " 
 
 Purdung shook his head. 
 
 " The Monastery of Sera possesses as much wealth as 
 aU. the merchants of Lhasa together. Besides, they are 
 prepared to fight in person for their rights. The majority 
 of them are young men who entered the monastery because 
 they were incapable of supporting themselves as laymen, 
 or because they fled to it as a sanctuary to escape the con- 
 sequences of some crime. The Regent has also taken care 
 
 191 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 to have the Senior Chinese Amban on his side. The Amban 
 commands the Chinese troops in Lhasa and Tsering the 
 Tibetan troops. A rising of citizens could do nothing 
 against these soldiers supported by the Sera Monastery." 
 
 " Has Tsering always won over the Chinese Amban ? " 
 
 " Hitherto he has done so. In fact, the last Amban was 
 so much under his influence that the Chinese Emperor re- 
 called him. Tuen Fang is more careful at present, but he 
 is not likely to prove any better in the end." 
 
 From Philip's own experience of him it certainly seemed 
 improbable, but the young man made no reference to his 
 encounter with the mandarin at Ta-chien-lu for fear of 
 making Purdung uneasy. He merely inquired if, under 
 the circumstances, it was useless to ask the merchant to 
 obtain for him an audience with the Dalai Lama. 
 
 " I will do my best," replied Purdung. " The Regent 
 has no reason to think that I should wish to present a sus- 
 picious character. I will submit your name to him, and 
 will let you know if the interview is granted." 
 
 Philip thanked the good-natured merchant, and went 
 off in high spirits. What he had heard about the Regent 
 made him all the more anxious to see his charge. If only 
 half what Purdung had said was true Tsering must be a 
 bloodthirsty and unscrupulous scoundrel, while Rashwa 
 excited the young man's admiration for having the courage 
 to oppose the tyrant. 
 
 In the absence of news, from Purdung Philip spent the 
 next two days in a state of great restlessness, now buoyed 
 up with the hope of obtaining his object, now despairing of 
 it altogether. On the third day, however, Purdung came 
 to his rooms and announced that he had arranged an inter- 
 view for the following morning at eleven o'clock. Philip 
 was much gratified by the news, and, as soon as Purdung 
 had gone, hunted amongst his property for some suitaWe 
 
 192 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 presents to give the Grand Lama. Fortunately some of 
 the most valuable articles which he had brought from China 
 for this purpose were still in his possession, and he selected 
 a pair of handsome silver drinking cups and three cloaks 
 of the richest Chinese silk. 
 
 That evening he went round to Rashwa's house and in- 
 formed him of the approaching interview. 
 
 " I am very pleased to hear that Purdung has arranged 
 it," said the Khalon. " I hive only one thing to ask, do 
 not mention my name to, any one at the Potala, nor let it 
 be seen that you know me if you happen to meet me there." 
 
 Philip promised to do as he wished, and then the conver- 
 sation, which had taken place in the family circle, turned 
 on general topics. Lotzung, however, remained unusually 
 silent, and after a short time rose and left the room. She 
 was still absent when PhUip took his leave about an hour 
 later, and he came to the conclusion that she had retired 
 for the night. 
 
 But the young man had not gone many paces from the 
 house when he heard a light step hurrying after him, and 
 a girl's voice calling softly, " Khangsar, Khangsar ! " He 
 turned to find that it was Lotzung. 
 
 " You, Lotzung ! " he exclaimed. " I thought you had 
 gone to bed a long time ago ! " 
 
 " No, I did not go to bed," she answered. " I stayed 
 up because I wanted to ask you if you would do sometWng 
 for me." 
 
 " I will do what I can for you, Lotzung," he answered. 
 
 " I heard you tell my uncle," she continued, " that you 
 were going to have an audience with the Dalai Lama to- 
 morrow." 
 
 " Yes, that is so," said Philip. 
 
 " We women are not allowed to enter the Potala, any 
 more than we can gain admittance to the temples." 
 
 N 193 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Philip nodded to show that he was aware of the fact. 
 
 " But although we cannot join in pubhc prayers, nor 
 ever see the head of our Church, we may still be devoted 
 to the religion of our country." 
 
 Philip again silently acquiesced, wondering at a faith 
 which shut the gates of heaven to an innocent young girl 
 like Lotzung, while the most depraved and dissolute lama 
 could walk in without a word of protest from the door- 
 keeper. But Lotzung resumed — 
 
 " One of the ways in which we can show our devotion is 
 by giving offerings to the Dalai Lama. This we do through 
 those who are privileged to have an audience with him. 
 Will you take a small offering from me to the Dalai Lama 
 to-morrow ? " 
 
 She looked up to him with an earnest appeal in her dark 
 eyes. 
 
 " Of course I will, Lotzung," he answered. " Have you 
 got it with you ? " 
 
 Lotzung produced a small parcel, very neatly done up in 
 paper. 
 
 " I have hardly any money of my own," she continued, 
 " and my offering has no value. In fact, it is only a httle 
 khata. Still, it is all I can give, and you will make me very 
 happy if you will place it amongst your richer gifts to the 
 Dalai Lama." 
 
 " I will present it with them." 
 
 A pretty smile lit up the young girl's face. 
 
 " You are very good to me, Khangsar. Of course, you 
 will not say from whom it comes, but merely present it 
 with your own khata when you are in the presence of the 
 Grand Lama. Keep it packed up in the paper as long as 
 possible to prevent it being soiled. Good night, dear 
 Khangsar," and with a farewell smile she turned and 
 hurried back to the house. 
 
 194 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 AS Philip walked back to his rooms that night his 
 £\ recent interview with Lotzung engaged his thoughts. 
 During the time that she was with him on his journey to 
 Lhasa he had not realized that she was such a devoted 
 follower of Buddha. He remembered, of course, that she 
 had persuaded him to kneel at the cairn on the top of the 
 first pass they had crossed together, and on subsequent 
 occasions she had placed a stone upon the pile, and at- 
 tached lung-ta to the prayer poles like an orthodox 
 believer in Gautama. But he had not suspected her of 
 such deep religious convictions as to wish to spend the 
 little money she had in niaking presents to the Dalai Lama, 
 whom she could never see, and who would not even be 
 aware that she was the donor of the gifts. 
 
 Philip rose early the following morning and got ready 
 the presents which he had set aside to take to the Potala. 
 The silver cups received a final polish, and the silk cloaks 
 were shaken and carefully folded. Lotzung's khata, still 
 in its paper covering, was placed with his own on the top. 
 The presents were then done up in a parcel for Mantso to 
 carry to the Potala. 
 
 Although the palace lay barely a mile from the town it 
 was customary for all but the very poorest to ride there on 
 horseback. PhiUp did not possess any horses, but he found 
 no difficulty in hiring a couple of ponies- for the purpose. 
 At half-past ten he started from his lodgings, Mantso carry- 
 ing in addition to the presents a bundle of incense sticks 
 for presentation at the entrance hall of the Potala. As they 
 
 195 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 rode out of the courtyard the muleteer pointed with evident 
 satisfaction to a woman carrying a bucket of water. 
 
 " It is a very liicky omen," he said, "when the first 
 person you see on leaving the house in the morning is a 
 woman carrying water." 
 
 PhiUp smiled and said that he was glad to begin, the 
 day in such an auspicious manner. It would indeed be un- 
 fortunate if anything should occur at the last moment to 
 prevent the interview to which he had looked forward 
 with such curiosity. On nearing the Potala the numbers 
 of lamas passing in and out seemed larger than usual, and 
 pUgrims, bound for an audience like himself, were riding 
 towards it. The sun shone brightly on the building, the 
 nine stories of which stood out boldly in the clear 
 atmosphere. 
 
 Arrived at the eastern gate, Philip and his servant were 
 received by three lamas, who bade them dismount and 
 follow them with their ponies. The monks led the way into 
 a fine entrance hall, with a row of prayer cylinders on either 
 side. Philip rotated those on the side along which he 
 passed, following the example set him by the lamas. 
 Leaving the hall they ascended a flight of stone steps, still 
 leading the ponies. After two more flights had been sur- 
 mounted the lamas said that the ponies must be left behind. 
 Mantso remained in charge of them, and one of the lamas 
 carried Phihp's bundle of presents. 
 
 The reason for leaving the ponies at this point now 
 became evident, for the next ascent was made by a ladder. 
 Then four terraces connected by ladders brought them to 
 a building called the Red Palace. Here the party rested 
 to take breath, and Philip gazed on the magnificent pano- 
 rama which lay stretched before him, including the whole 
 of the city and the rolling expanse of plain beyond up to 
 the foot of the distant hills. Six more ladders followed, and 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the reception hall was gained at length. The lamas ushered 
 Philip within. Three or four score pilgrims were already 
 assembled in this chamber, which was hung with rich 
 brocades and cloth of gold, while the walls were orna- 
 mented with gorgeous frescoes. The floor was made of 
 Tibetan poUshed cement, which by frequent rubbing 
 acquires a surface as glossy as the finest marble. 
 
 The chamberlain now entered and inspected the tickets 
 of admission with which each of the visitors had to be pro- 
 vided. PhQip spoke to the ofiicial in Tibetan, and was 
 glad to find that neither his speech nor his outward appear- 
 ance seemed to arrest the man's attention. Meanwhile 
 the pilgrims were busy getting ready their presents, and 
 the young Englishman followed their example. The silver 
 cups he placed on the top of the rich silk cloaks. He then 
 unwrapped Lotzung's khata, and was struck at once by 
 its colour, which was a darker shade of blue than ,the kind 
 most frequently used. As he turned it over he noticed 
 some Tibetan characters in needlework in one corner of it. 
 They, formed, no doubt, the universal text, " Cm mani 
 padme hum," but before he could assure himself of the 
 fact the door into the audience chamber opened and the 
 pilgrims were summoned into the presence. 
 
 Wishiiig to be neither in the front nor in the rear, Philip 
 took up his position about midway in the line, and soon 
 entered the audience chamber. He found it to be .smaller 
 than the reception hall, but, if possible, still more lavishly 
 adorned with costly hangings and bright-coloured frescoes. 
 In the centre at the further end, on a pile of cushions 
 arranged on the top of a small raised platform, sat the 
 Dalai Lama, in the cross-legged attitude in which Buddha 
 is almost always represented. On his right, on a lower 
 platform, the Regent was seated, the four Khalons being 
 also present, two on either side. Philip saw Rashwa at 
 
 197 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 once, but in deference to his wishes gave no sign of recog- 
 nition. Each end of the central row was flanked by a large 
 number of lamas. 
 
 The pilgrims approached the Dalai Lama in turn, placed 
 their gifts on the fore part of the throne, answered any 
 questions addressed to them, and then knelt down to re- 
 ceive his blessing. When a pilgrim retired an attendant 
 removed his presents and the next approached. The scene 
 was full of interest to one who had not witnessed it before, 
 but the chief figure in it engrossed the whole of Philip's 
 attention. The Head of the Buddhist Church and the living 
 embodiment of the being worshipped by it, was a young 
 boy of princely bearing and strikingly beautiful face. The 
 features, but for the eyes, showed no trace of Mongolian 
 extraction, and the complexion was clear and fresh, though 
 there was an appearance of delicacy induced by too con- 
 stant attendance at the rehgious ceremonials of the Bud- 
 dhist faith. The Grand Lama spoke to each pilgrim in 
 turn, but in such a low voice that Philip could not hear 
 what he said until he approached quite close to the 
 dais. 
 
 At length it was the young man's turn, and, advancing, 
 he placed his presents on the Dalai Lama's throne. The 
 boy's attention had been distracted for a moment, but when 
 his eyes fell upon Lotzung's dark blue khata, which lay 
 on the top of Philip's present, his interest seemed to be 
 aroused at once. Taking up the khata — ^it was the first 
 that he had touched — he opened it out, and Philip thought 
 that his eyes rested for a second on the worked characters 
 in the corner. Then a harsh voice exclaimed — 
 
 " Does not the Gesub Rimpoche " (one of the Dalai 
 Lama's titles) " see the pilgrim who awaits his blessing ? " 
 
 The speaker was the Regent. At the sound of his voice 
 the Grand Lama dropped the khata hastily. Then, with 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the blood suffusing his delicate skin, he bent forward and 
 laid his hand on Philip's head. 
 
 " May Buddha, whose glance explores the infinite, give 
 you peace," he murmured ; and Philip was motioned 
 to withdraw. 
 
 In the centre of the chamber cushions were provided to 
 seat the visitors, and when all the offerings had been pre- 
 sented tea was served. Some of the more devout pilgrims 
 instead of drinking the tea poured it over their heads, but 
 Philip did not follow their example, for it was the most 
 fragrant he had ever tasted. He allowed the attendant 
 to fill his cup three times, and would have drunk as much 
 again if the cups had not been now collected and an old 
 lama commenced an address to the pilgrims on the Buddhist 
 faith. This was followed by a chant, in which the Dalai 
 Lama, with his boyish treble, took the solo, whUe the bass 
 voices of lamas joined at regular intervals in the refrain. 
 
 The religious fervour and apparent sincerity of the lamas 
 would have made a deep impression on Philip if the two 
 principal actors in the scene had not attracted his whole 
 attention. It would be hard to find a greater contrast than 
 that which existed between the countenances of the Dalai 
 Lama and the man who acted as his Regent. The former 
 was full of refinement and purity, while the latter had a 
 sensuous look about the mouth and a mixture of cunning 
 and cruelty in the small black eyes which made Philip 
 inclined to believe all the stories which were told about him. 
 What if they were really true, and the beautiful youth who 
 combined the best qualities of a high-born prince and a 
 saintly priest, were indeed destined to fall a victim to the 
 Regent's greed for power ? 
 
 The question haunted Philip after he had left the 
 Potala and returned to the seclusion of his rooms. The 
 tragedy of the Dalai Lama's life seemed gradually to reveal 
 
 199 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 itself to him. Chosen by the lamas from amongst the 
 infants born at the time of his predecessor's death, he was 
 devoted from his earliest days to the service of the Church. 
 At the age of three he would already be receiving audiences, 
 and beginning to learn by heart the hundred and eight 
 volumes of the Lamaist sacred writ. The Regent would 
 arrange his hours of study, his meals, his rest, just as he 
 pleased, without being responsible to any one in connection 
 with them. The boy's delicate appearance resulted from 
 too close an application to the sacred books, too much 
 fasting, and too httle repose. If the Regent continued 
 this regime a httle further he would gain his end without 
 recourse to violence or poison. 
 
 One evening, about a week later, PhUip was sitting 
 reading alone in his room. It was ten o'clock, a late hour 
 for Tibetans. The landlord and his family had retired to 
 rest and Mantso was asleep in the next room. But on the 
 first floor immediately beneath him Philip fancied he heard 
 voices. The teiiants who had been away so long had evi- 
 dently returned, though it was curious that they should 
 have come back at that late hour of the night. This fact 
 distracted Philip's attention from his book, and he found 
 himself listening to the voices beneath. 
 
 Presently he caught the sound of a faint moan, and the 
 voices ceased. What could be going on ? Philip's curi- 
 osity was now thoroughly aroused, and he strained his ears 
 to catch the shghtest sound. At this moment some one 
 opened the door of the room below and, stepping out on to 
 the landing, stood still, as though listening. Then the 
 young man heard footsteps ascending the staircase to his 
 floor. They reached his door, and, after a momentary 
 hesitation, there came a knock and the door opened. 
 Philip sat gazing at his visitor in blank astonishment, for 
 there before him, with pale cheek and anxious eyes, stood 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Lotzung. She started on seeing who it was, and then with 
 a look of intense relief exclaimed — 
 
 "So it is you, Khangsar ! How glad I am. Quick! 
 Come and help me ; my brother has fainted." 
 
 Philip understood the situation at a glance. Unable to 
 meet at their uncle's house, the brother and sister had 
 hired rooms in an out-of-the-way quarter of the town, 
 where they could see each other without the knowledge of 
 their relatives. He was curious to see this brother of whom 
 Lotzung was so fond, and, taking a restorative from his 
 medicine chest, he followed her to the room below. 
 
 Here a stUl greater surprise awaited him. For in the 
 senseless form of a boy who lay on some cushions in the 
 centre of the room, guarded by the faithful Champa, he 
 recognized the Dalai Lama. Everything was now clear to 
 him. This explained why Lotzung was so anxious for 
 Philip to present to the Grand Lama her khata with the 
 characters in one corner of it, doubtless arranging for their 
 meeting to-night. No wonder the boy had scanned the 
 letters so intently, till interrupted by the harsh accents of 
 the Regent. 
 
 But the patient required immediate attention. As he 
 lay back motionless amongst the cushions the imsteady 
 light from a pair of flickering butter lamps intensified the 
 pallor of his delicate but handsome countenance. PhUip 
 knelt down at his side, and, applying the restorative which 
 he had brought with him, soon had the satisfaction of seeing 
 the colour return to his cheeks and his beautiful dark eyes 
 open. 
 
 " Cm mani padme hum ! " he said, trying to raise his 
 hand as he pronounced the sacred formula, though it fell 
 helpless to his side again. 
 
 " Poor Pantchen ! " * murmured Lotzung, betiding over 
 
 * One of the Dalai Lama's numerous titles. 
 20 1 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 him with moist eyes. " He fancies he is still on his throne 
 saying the benediction. Look at me, Pantchen ! " she 
 continued, raising her voice. " Do you not know me ? It 
 is Lotzung — your only sister, Lotzung." 
 
 The boy turned his gaze towards her and a look of recog- 
 nition came into his eyes. 
 
 "Is it really you, Lotzung ? " he said, looking at her 
 eai-nestly. " I thought I was in the audience chamber re- 
 ceiving pilgrims. Then I heard your voice and was amazed, 
 for no woman ever enters the Potala. Now I see that I am 
 back again in the little room in which you had arranged 
 that we should meet. I suppose I must have fallen asleep. 
 What would Tsering say if he saw me lying thus ? Even 
 at night-time I am not allowed to rest, except in a sitting 
 posture." Then, catching sight of Philip, who had risen 
 and was standing behind Lotzung, he exclaimed in an 
 accent of alarm, " But who is that man who stands behind 
 you ? " 
 
 Lotzung took Philip's hand and presented him to the 
 Dalai Lama. 
 
 " This is my kind friend, Khangsar, the Eastern Mongol," 
 she said, " of whom I told you, and who accompanied me 
 the greater part of the journey from Namcho to Lhasa. 
 I owe him many thanks for that ; but he has done me a 
 still further kindness, for it was he who presented you with 
 the khata by which I sent you my last message." 
 
 The Pantchen made an effort to rise from his cushions, 
 but sank back into them again. 
 
 " I cannot sit up to talk with you as I should like to do, 
 for I still feel very weak," the boy replied, turning to 
 Philip ; " but I must thank you for your kindness to my 
 sister. Yes, I recognize you now, though I was too busy 
 with the khata that you brought me to do more than glance 
 at you. I can see by your face that I can trust you to say 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 nothing of my visit to this house to-night; But how is it 
 that you are here ? " 
 
 Lotzung explained that when the Pantchen fainted she 
 had gone for help and found, quite accidentally, that Khang- 
 sar was occupying a room in the same house. 
 
 " Yes, I suppose I must have fainted," rejoined tiie boy 
 thoughtfully. " But I am well now, and must be return- 
 mg. 
 
 If Philip had not been acting the part of a faithful follower 
 of Buddha he would have settled the matter out of hand 
 for the young boy. As it was he had to show some defer- 
 ence to the Head of the Buddhist Church. After glancing 
 hastily round the room he said — 
 
 " But the Pantchen has had nothing to eat. He must 
 take some tea before going out into the cold night air." 
 
 The boy gave a wan smile and shook his head. 
 
 " I had my last meal at five this afternoon, and can touch 
 nothing till eight o'clock to-morrow morning." 
 
 " Not under ordinary circumstances, of course," replied 
 Philip. " But this is a special occasion, for the Pantchen 
 is not well. I know something of the healing art, and see 
 that a little food and drink is necessary for you." 
 
 The Pantchen again shook his head, but Lotzung said — 
 
 " It is quite true what Khangsar says. He is a Wonderful 
 physician, and cured many ailments at our castle. Un- 
 fortunately I have neither food nor drink in this house," 
 she added regretfully. "I did not think of it when I 
 arranged the meeting here." 
 
 " That can soon be put right," said Philip. " I have 
 plenty of meat in my larder, and will go and rouse my 
 servant." 
 
 " Your labour will be vain," rejoined the Pantchen. 
 " It is the season of the fasts, and I may not touch 
 meat.' 
 
 203 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " I have other things in my larder besides meat. A hght 
 meal shall be prepared at once." 
 
 Mantso was much surprised when Philip woke laim with 
 the order to cook supper. His master was not particular 
 about his meals, and had never asked for one at that time 
 of night. But the faithful muleteer obeyed the order with- 
 out a murmur. The stove was soon burning brightly and 
 water boiling for the tea. Meanwhile Philip, disregarding 
 the Dalai Lama's remark about the fasting season, began 
 to chop up some cooked meat. When this was very finely 
 cut up he mixed it with some tsamba and a couple of raw 
 eggs, making the whole, in Tibetan fashion, into a fairiy 
 thick paste. Then, bidding Mantso stay where he was, he 
 carried the meal down to the floor beneath. The poor 
 Pantchen's eyes glistened when he saw the steaming teapot 
 and the tsamba paste. 
 
 " It is very wrong of me to eat now," he said, " but 
 Khangsar, the clever physician, orders it, and I really feel 
 the need of food." 
 
 The boy ate heartily, almost ravenously, of the tsamba 
 paste, and gulped down the buttered tea with the most 
 evident satisfaction. It seemed as if he were almost 
 starved. Lotzung's eyes filled with tears as she watched 
 him eat, and Philip burnt with anger and indignation 
 against the unscrupulous Regent who had reduced his 
 ward to such a state. To relieve the Pantchen of the 
 embarrassment of eating alone Philip poured out a cup of 
 tea for Lotzung and took one himself. 
 
 " This tsamba paste is very good," said the Pantchen. 
 " If I had not reminded Khangsar that it was the season of 
 the fasts I should have thought that both meat and eggs 
 were in the mixture." 
 
 " Let not the Pantchen be afraid," rephed Philip. 
 " Khangsar knows well that it is the fasting season, and 
 
 204 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 that a lama may eat neither meat nor eggs while the season 
 lasts." 
 
 Reassured by Philip's words the Dalai Lama applied 
 himself again to the paste, and ended by disposing of the 
 whole of it. This done, he lay back on the cushions with 
 already a stronger look in his deUcate face. 
 
 " Khangsar must indeed be a great physician," he said, 
 smiling. " After taking his prescriptioh once I feel better 
 than after a dozen doses of the medicine they give me at 
 the Potala." 
 
 " He healed a wound which Maru received from a fall on 
 horseback," said Lotzung, " and he prescribed for both 
 father and mother when they were unwell. But he would 
 not give me any medicine," she added with laughing eyes. 
 " That is, not till I had begged him for it." 
 
 The Pantchen looked inquiringly from one to the other, 
 trying in vain to read the explanation of his sister's words 
 in their faces. 
 
 " How was that, Khangsar ? " he asked at length. " You 
 who were so kind to her in other respects, why did you 
 refuse her medicine ? " 
 
 " That is easily answered. She was not in need of any." 
 
 The boy gave utterance to a merry peal of laughter. 
 
 " So you ask for medicine, Lotzung, when you do not re- 
 quire it ? " he said. " You evidently do not know what it 
 is like. If you had to take all the medicine I am given you 
 would soon cease asking for it." 
 
 These words banished the smile from PhUip's face and 
 made him grave again. Not content with starving, was 
 the Regent also trying to poison the boy ? 
 
 " Yes, Pantchen," he answered, " it is possible to take 
 too much medicine, not only for one's inclination but for 
 one's health. It seems to me that the Pantchen is given 
 more medicine than is good for him." 
 
 205 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 The Pantchen shook his head. 
 
 " The doses have been sanctioned by long custom at the 
 Potala, and have been administered to all my predecessors." 
 
 Philip saw that it would be useless to carry his protest 
 any further, and the conversation turned on general topics. 
 Lotzung and her brother were in the best of spirits. It 
 was a pleasure to see the Pantchen give rein to his mirth, 
 and, laying aside the restraining influence of his exalted 
 station, act his natural part as a merry, light-hearted boy. 
 The gaiety of the party was at its height when the blare of 
 horns and trumpets burst forth from a neighbouring temple 
 and reminded the Pantchen of the routine imposed upon 
 him by his Church. 
 
 " That is the summons for midnight prayer, and I should 
 have returned to the Potala by this time. I must not stay 
 another moment, or my private chamberlain, who aided 
 me to get away unseen, will be alarmed." 
 
 As he rose to his feet Lotzung threw a long cloak over 
 him, covering him from head to foot. Then, similarly 
 arraying herself, she led the way out of the room. 
 
 " How does the Pantchen get home ? " Philip asked 
 Lotzung in low tones. 
 
 " A palanquin awaits him below.' 
 
 " And you ? " 
 
 " I walk." 
 
 " Then I accompany you. But before you part with the 
 Pantchen, make another appointment with him here." 
 
 Lotzung nodded, and they groped their way slowly down 
 the staircase in the light of a butter lamp held by Philip. 
 In the yard a palanquin, with an attendant and two bearers, 
 was waiting for the Dalai Lama. The young boy bade his 
 companions a hasty farewell, and, entering the palanquin, 
 was carried swiftly and silently out of the yard. Philip 
 and Lotzung followed, and Champa, glad to be in the open 
 
 206 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 air again, began to dance round his mistress, emitting 
 mit whines of delight, which would soon have developed into 
 ringing barks, if Lotzung had not prevented it. 
 
 " Silence, Champa ! " she said. " It is midnight, and all 
 except the priests are asleep." Then, turning to Philip, 
 she continued, " But why are you coming with me ? I 
 can go quite well by myself." 
 
 " I do not mean to leave you unprotected." 
 
 Lotzung laughed softly. 
 
 " Unprotected against whom ? Lhasa is not full of bad 
 men, and no one would touch me. Besides, have I not 
 Champa ? " 
 
 All the same, Philip persisted in accompanying her, and 
 as they went he talked to her of the Pantchen. As far as he 
 could do so without alarming her too much he pointed out 
 that her brother should have more to eat and drink, and 
 fewer drugs to swallow. This conversation mad3 Lotzung 
 very grave, and on bidding Philip farewell at her uncle's 
 house she said — 
 
 " I am glad that you now know who my brother is, and 
 that there exists no longer any secret between us. From 
 what you say I must keep a careful watch over him, and 
 you will help me do so, kind Khangsar, will you not ? " 
 
 207 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 E' TZUNG did not fail to arrange another meeting with 
 her brother at Phihp's lodging-house, and afterwards 
 they took place at least once a week, and sometimes 
 oftener. With the aid of the good food which he then 
 obtained, his health improved and he looked more robust. 
 But in the matter of the medicine Lotzung was not so suc- 
 cessful. The young lama, who had known only one pre- 
 ceptor from his earliest days, possessed the most absolute 
 faith in all that Tsering told him. Moreover, the Regent's 
 instructions were supported by the authority of precedent. 
 The routine of a Dalai Lama's life had been mapped out 
 down to the minutest details — what he should eat and drink, 
 the hours he should devote to rest, and even the medicines 
 he should take. A certain amount of discretion, of course, 
 was left to the Regent, and by administering the drugs at 
 improper hours or in undue quantities he could render 
 their effect harmful instead of beneficial. But Tsering had 
 acquired such an ascendancy over his ward that the boy 
 would never believe him capable of wishing to do him any 
 ill, and Lotzung saw that in speaking against the Regent she 
 would only make her brother unhappy without convincing 
 him. 
 
 Philip had now got into the habit of walking about Lhasa 
 at all hours of the day without any fear of attracting atten- 
 tion. The representatives of many diverse nationahties 
 were to be seen in the sacred city. The fact that they had 
 passed the cordon of lamas on watch at the outskirts of the 
 country was considered by those in authority as a proof that 
 
 308 
 
A Wife fi-om the Forbidden Land 
 
 their character was satisfactory. Since Rashwa had be- 
 friended Philip the other Khalons had left him alone. As 
 for Jasi, the young Englishman came to the conclusion that 
 he had been effectually silenced, for he had neither heard 
 nor seen anything of him since his summons to the Khalons' 
 court. But Philip did not neglect to take every precaution 
 possible. As the tan began to fade from his skin, now that 
 he no longer lived in the open air, he had recourse to arti- 
 ficial pigments. In this way he maintained a dark com- 
 plexion, which prevented him from being taken for a 
 European, and secured him from any annoyance on this 
 account. 
 
 Philip, with Mantso in attendance, was making some 
 purchases in a Lhasa store one morning, when the cracking 
 of whips and shouts of those who cleared the way showed 
 that some one in high office was coming down the street. 
 Mantso went to the door, and returned with the intelli- 
 gence that the Senior Amban, Tuen Fang, was taking an 
 airing. 
 
 " Is he on horseback or in his palanquin ? " asked PhiUp. 
 
 " He is on foot, Kushok," Mantso replied. 
 
 " We must stay in the store till he has gone by, and take 
 care not to show ourselves. He may have a good memory 
 for faces and recollect having you flogged in Ta-chien-lu." 
 
 " I shall not forget it, at any rate, Kushok," replied 
 Mantso. 
 
 The tramp of feet drew nearer, and Philip and his servant 
 stepped into the shadow of the doorway to watch the pro- 
 cession go by, whilst free from observation themselves. The 
 Amban was preceded by a couple of attendants armed with 
 whips to keep the course clear, though there was no occasion 
 to use them, as the inhabitants were now famihar enough 
 with the appearance of Tuen Fang not to feel any curiosity 
 with regard to him when he went abroad. Half a dozen 
 
 o ao9 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Chinese soldiers came next, and then the Amban, followed 
 by a group of gorgeously attired retainers. 
 
 From the obscurity of his retreat Philip watched Tuen 
 Fang as he came slowly down the street. Self-indulgence 
 had made his cheeks more white and puffy, and the rings 
 beneath his eyes more dark. When Philip first caught sight 
 of him his face was absolutely void of expression. But 
 presently he must have seen something which attracted his 
 attention, for his dull eyes grew brighter and his flabby 
 cheeks became agitated with an effort to smile. On reach- 
 ing the door which sheltered Philip, Tuen Fang stopped 
 and made a profound bow to some one who was evidently 
 approaching him. 
 
 "All hail, fair maiden ! " he said, with a ludicrous attempt 
 at gallantry. " Has the heaven- born slept well ? " 
 
 " No better than usual ! " replied the maiden, whom, as 
 she appeared in front of the doorway, Philip recognized as 
 Lotzung, with Champa at her heels. 
 
 " I should have thought you had slept better, for you 
 cannot be as lovely every day as you are this morning." 
 
 Lotzung tossed her head and endeavoured to pass on, 
 but Tuen Fang placed himself in front of her. 
 
 " Nay, be not in such a hurry to run away ; stay and talk 
 a little longer. Perhaps you do not know who I am ? " 
 
 " Yes, you are Tuen Fang, the Chinese Amban. I have 
 seen you in the streets of Lhasa and I have heard my father 
 speak of you. Please let me pass." 
 
 But Tuen Fang was rather pleased by a show of opposi- 
 tion, such as he seldom met with, and putting out his hand 
 with a fatuous smile, he placed it on the young girl's arm. 
 A savage growl from Champa, however, made him loose his 
 hold, and the young girl slipped past him. The colour rose 
 to Tuen Fang's pale face as Lotzung thus escaped him. 
 Turning to an attendant, whom Philip did not see, and tell- 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 ing him to follow the girl and find out where she lived, he 
 passed on down the street. 
 
 Philip's first impulse, as soon as the Amban had dis- 
 appeared, was to hurry after Lotzung and warn her that 
 she was being followed. A moment's reflection, however, 
 showed him that it would be a useless errand. Although 
 she might lead her follower astray by going into the house 
 of a friend, such a course would only delay the discovery of 
 her real home by a few hours. No servant of the Senior 
 Amban's would dare to abandon a search till he had 
 obtained from a reliable source the information which his 
 master desired. Besides, there was no reason why Lotzung 
 should conceal her identity. She had done no wrong, and 
 even the Senior Amban could not punish a niece of the chief 
 Khalon merely because she did not wish to stand talking 
 with him in the street. 
 
 Accordingly Philip completed his purchases and returned 
 home, while Lotzung went on to her uncle's house, uncon- 
 scious that she was being tracked. As to Tuen Fang, the 
 incident left by no means an unpleasant impression upon 
 him. Senior Ambana are not exempt from the law which 
 forbids Chinamen to bring their wives into Tibet. At his 
 former posts Tuen Fang had his wife with him, or at any 
 rate a Chinese woman who passed for his wife. Although 
 he had only been in Tibet a short time he began to feel the 
 lack of female society. He knew, of course, that his 
 countrymen were in the habit of contracting temporary 
 marriages with Tibetan women during their stay in the 
 country, but such women as he had hitherto seen in Lhasa 
 possessed no attraction for him. 
 
 At last, however, the mandarin had met a girl of the 
 country whom he considered really pretty. From her 
 dress and bearing he could see that she was of high rank, 
 so that she would be suitable for the position of his wife as 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 long as he remained in Lhasa. He never doubted that her 
 parents would consent to the match. The majority of 
 Tibetans were quite willing to exchange their daughters for 
 a handsome present, especially when the rank of the pro- 
 spective bridegroom proved a further attraction. As for 
 the girl's views on the subject he had not given them a 
 thought. In his own country marriages were arranged by 
 the parents without the engaged couple in many cases even 
 seeing each other. The independence which Lotzung had 
 shown, so far from being an obstacle to the match, only 
 seemed an additional charm, after the tame submission of 
 Chinese women. 
 
 Tuen Fang's thoughts were busy with the subject as he 
 reclined at ease on a divan that same evening after supper. 
 A brazier was burning in the centre of the room, maintain- 
 ing it at an agreeable temperature. The apartment was 
 furnished with the best Chinese upholstery, and costly 
 silks adorned the walls. A cup of tea had just been 
 served, when an attendant entered and announced the 
 Regent. The familiar terms on which the two men stood 
 with regard to each other was plain from the manner in 
 which Tuen Fang without rising motioned his guest to take 
 the opposite divan. Nothing more than commonplaces 
 passed between them whilst the attendant was pouring out 
 a cup of tea for Tsering, but as soon as they were left alone 
 Tuen Fang said — 
 
 " I was glad to get your message saying you would pay 
 me a visit this evening." 
 
 Tsering's small black eyes emitted a fiery glint, and his 
 brows contracted angrily. He was tired of Chinese fine 
 phrases, such as he took the one uttered to be, and he 
 wished to get to business at once. 
 
 " It is well that you are glad to see me, for I have matters 
 of importance to discuss with you." 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 ^Tuen Fang was in much too comfortable a frame of 
 mind to be annoyed by curt words. He had made an 
 excellent supper, washed down with very good wine. The 
 cup of tea which he now sipped just suited his palate, while 
 his opium pipe and tray stood within reach, ready for use 
 as soon as he had finished his tea. This was the first night 
 in which he had felt really at home since he had been in 
 Lhasa. 
 
 " I have also something to discuss with you," he said to 
 his guest. " But it is only a trifling personal affair. Yours, 
 no doubt, is a matter of state, so let us do business first and 
 pleasure afterwards." 
 
 He concluded these words with a leering smile, which 
 made Tsering still more angry, as it seemed that the Amban 
 must be mocking him. 
 
 " Let it be business at once then," he answered sharply. 
 " I am not in the mood for trifles. It is about the Dalai 
 Lama that I wish to talk." 
 
 " Ah ! " exclaimed the Amban, laying down the cup of 
 tea which he had just drained and drawing the opium tray 
 towards him. " That is always a serious subject with 
 you, I know. I wish I could teach you to smoke opium, 
 you would not take life so grimly then. Make a begin- 
 ning to-night," be added, holding out a pipe towards his 
 guest. 
 
 The Regent waved it impatiently aside. 
 
 " It will be time for me to learn opium smoking when I 
 am good for nothing else," he said. " At present the 
 government of this country sits upon my shoulders, and its 
 welfare is my sole concern. It is the Dalai Lama who 
 causes me uneasiness." 
 
 Tuen Fang put his opium dipper into a small bowl and 
 puUed it out again with a string of sticky substance adhering 
 to it, which he retained by twirling the dipper round, as one 
 
 213 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 does with treacle. Then, as he heated the mass over the 
 flame of a lamp, he replied — 
 
 " What is the reason of your uneasiness ? Is he not well ? " 
 
 " A Dalai Lama should be above such a consideration as 
 mere health. What alarms me about him is that he is 
 losing that delicacy of feature which is essential to the Head 
 of our Church, if he is to retain his hold upon the people." 
 
 " You mean that he is looking stronger and more robust 
 than you like to see him," rejoined Tuen Fang, transferring 
 the roasted opium from the end of the dipper to the bowl of 
 his pipe, and heating the latter over the lamp preparatory 
 to smoking it. " Yes, I was forgetting. It does not, of 
 course, suit your plans that he should enjoy good health." 
 
 The Regent made a gesture of irritation. 
 
 " I am thinking only of my country's good. It is neces- 
 sary that a strong man should be at the head of affairs and 
 one who knows by experience how to govern." 
 
 " You have certainly had experience," rejoined Tuen 
 Fang. " Regent to the two former Dalai Lamas, whom 
 you were unfortunately unable to keep alive, you are most 
 fitted to be Regent to the third." 
 
 " What will happen if the present Grand Lama grows up 
 strong and worldly-minded ? " continued Tsering, disre- 
 garding the Amban's innuendo. " The Buddhist pilgrims 
 will not recognize a Dalai Lama who no longer looks the 
 part he acts. Evil counsellors will soon surround him and 
 the country will be badly governed." 
 
 But at this moment the heated opium began to fizzle in 
 the bowl of the Amban's pipe, and, with a sigh of content- 
 ment after the lengthened preparation, Tuen Fang put the 
 stem in his mouth and commenced to smoke. The sensation 
 was too precious to interrupt with words, but when, after 
 some thirty seconds, all the opium had been consumed, 
 the Amban took the pipe from his mouth and said — 
 
 214 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " I quite understand. If this boy is allowed to live he 
 may develop a will of his own, which will interfere with the 
 plans of his indulgent Regent. But there is one thing I 
 must say. If it is time to do away with the boy, let it be 
 done in such a manner that there is no scandal about it. 
 I should get into trouble if the story should happen to reach 
 Pekin." 
 
 " That is my difficulty. The two other boys died after 
 a course of fasting, accompanied by suitable drugs. This 
 boy seems to thrive on the treatment. If I did not watch 
 him so carefully I should think that he was obtaining food 
 without my knowledge. . That, however, can hardly be the 
 case, as I am constantly in his apartment, and rarely leave 
 the Potala except for an hour or two in the evening, when 
 he has retired to rest." 
 
 " You think the matter urgent ? " inquired Tuen Fang. 
 
 " Very urgent. As long as this boy is alive I am less 
 secure than I was with either of the other two. You 
 must remember that I have banished his father from the 
 holy city. It was a dangerous step, but I had no alterna- 
 tive. Hitherto the parents of the Dalai Lama have lived 
 in Lhasa in a palace specially set apart for them, and 
 although neither the father nor any of the family were 
 allowed to hold a public appointment, they still possessed 
 considerable influence. Phala nurses this grievance against 
 me, and he is a powerful man." 
 
 " I know him," replied Tuen Fang, his brow clouding 
 for the first time that evening. " I shall not readily forget 
 the way he treated me at Namcho." 
 
 " I am glad we are both of a mind with regard to him. 
 As long as his son is the Dalai Lama it is always possible 
 that he may create a disturbance. He has influential 
 friends. The chief Khalon is his brother-in-law, and al- 
 though I have not been able to detect him plotting against 
 
 215 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 my power, I have little doubt that he would join any con- 
 spiracy which might be hatched to destroy me." 
 
 There was a pause, while Tuen Fang began preparations 
 for another pipe of opium. At length he said — 
 
 " I suppose you came here to ask me to take some action 
 in the matter. What is it you wish me to do ? " 
 
 " Write to Pekin saying that you have very bad accounts 
 of the Dalai Lama's health." 
 
 " Though everybody can see that he is looking better 
 than ever ? " 
 
 " I shall spread a report that he has taken a chill, sujpend 
 the audiences j and take care that no one sees him." 
 
 " His illness wUl end fatally ? " 
 
 The Regent nodded. Another pause followed, during 
 which Tuen Fang completed his preparations for a second 
 pipe and smoked it. Then he said — 
 
 " If I assist you in this matter I shall expect your co- 
 operation in another." 
 
 " Name it," answered Tsering. 
 
 " To-day I met the first pretty girl that I have seen in 
 Lhasa." 
 
 " That is hardly a compliment to the capital of my 
 country," rejoined Tsering grimly. " But please go on." 
 
 " I should like to contract a temporary marriage with 
 her." 
 
 The Regent looked up inquiringly. 
 
 " It could, of course, be easily arranged," he said at 
 length. " If she is unmarried her parents will gladly con- 
 sent to such a match. If she is married, well — I dare say 
 I could settle thie matter with the husband, one way or 
 another. Have you found out who she is ? " 
 
 " Yes, that is where the difficulty comes. I caused her 
 to be followed, and hear that she is the chief Khalon's niece 
 and Phala's daughter." 
 
 216 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 The Regent looked grave. 
 
 "That would be a very difficult matter to arrange ; in 
 fact, I doubt if it could be done at all. I should advise you 
 to give up the idea altogether. There are plenty of other 
 pretty girls in Lhasa if you know where to look for them." 
 
 But the opium fumes had mounted to the Amban's brain, 
 conjuring up an entrancing vision of the girl he had seen 
 that morning. He was in no mood to let this vision be 
 chased away by the cold logic of prudence, and replied — 
 
 " Those to whom the other pretty girls belong may keep 
 possession of them. I want none but the Khalon's niece." 
 
 Tsering found the Amban's persistence distinctly annoy- 
 ing. "Don't you see," he rejoined, "that if you press 
 the matter you wiU only arouse opposition, if not actual 
 revolt ? The consent of thegirl's parents must be obtained, 
 and you do not think that Phala, who openly flouted you, 
 and whose hatred of the Chinese is known to everybody, 
 will allow his daughter to marry one ? " 
 
 But Tuen Fang was in an obstinate mood, and he replied — 
 
 " I mean to have her all the same. Of course, you need 
 not help me unless you like. I dare say I shall get on very 
 well without your assistance. Meanwhile, you will not 
 expect any help from me in your affair." 
 
 The Regent's small eyes gleamed with irritation. What 
 a pernicious habit this opium smoking was, he said to him- 
 self, if it made a man rush thus bUndly into danger. Tsering 
 was particularly anxious to get "the Amban to write to 
 Pekin about the Dalai Lama, but this other fooUsh matter 
 had intervened. V\^ell, if persuasion had no effect, he 
 would try if threats would produce the desired result. 
 
 " You can please yourself in the matter, Tuen Fang," the 
 Regent answered coldly. " I can do very well without 
 your help, and you, no doubt, can do without mine. You 
 have not made yourself so popular with the inhabitants of 
 
 217 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 this city to be sure of their support when you wish to 
 override the laws of our country. I have on my side the 
 ten thousand lamas of Sera, who once rose up and put to 
 death both the Chinese Ambans." 
 
 In spite of the opium Tuen Fang's jaw fell at these words. 
 It was only twenty years ago, as he knew, that this occurred. 
 The monks of Sera were bound in their own interests to 
 support Tsering, for he had been nominated by them to the 
 regency, and in return granted them special privileges over 
 other monasteries. As for the laity of Lhasa, Tuen Fang 
 knew very weU that, if he had not actually roused their 
 animosity, he had done nothing to gain their admiration or 
 respect. Even his own Chinese troops were not to be relied 
 upon. He was aware, of course, that if he were killed by a 
 rising of the Tibetans, the Emperor of China would avenge 
 his death, but this would give more satisfaction to his 
 relatives than to himself. All this Tuen Fang saw clearly 
 enough, but, buoyed up by the stimulus of the drug he was 
 smoking, he determined to face the matter out. 
 
 " As Chinese Amban," he said, " I may not be popular 
 with the people of Lhasa, but then I am told that the Regent, 
 who has done away with two Dalai Lamas and is suspected 
 of compassing the death of the third, is in no better favour 
 with them." 
 
 Tsering rose from his couch. It was evidently useless to 
 try and persuade Tuen Fang to do anything for him in his 
 present perverse mood. 
 
 " I must return to the Potala," the Regent said. " Per- 
 haps we shall come to a better understanding next time we 
 meet. Till then, farewell." 
 
 Tuen Fang, either from a desire to show his indepen- 
 dence, or because the opium had caused him to lose the use 
 of his Umbs, contented himself with merely waving an adieu 
 to his guest. As soon as the door was shut the Amban 
 
 218 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 gave an empty laugh, and, as he began preparations for 
 another pipe, murmured to himself — 
 
 " So the Regent is trjdng to frighten me, is he ? He 
 comes here to ask my help in getting rid of the Dalai Lama, 
 and then, when I want him to assist me in a much more 
 simple matter, he advises me to give up all idea of it. He 
 does not know Tuen Fang. When I give my services I 
 expect something in return for them. My help goes to the 
 highest bidder. As for his precious monks of Sera, let them 
 do their worst. They will not face my Pekin soldiers nor 
 dare the wrath of the Chinese Emperor J " and the old roue, 
 with another hollow laugh, put his opium pipe to his lips, 
 and, leaning back on his divan, gave himself up to the 
 erijojonent of his cherished narcotic. 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 AT the same hour that the Regent and Senior Amban 
 L were talkmg of them, the Dalai Lama and Lotzung 
 were enjoying each other's society at Philip's lodgings. 
 Meetings had been more difficult to arrange of late, for the 
 Pantchen observed that a stricter watch had been kept 
 upon his movements. On this occasion, however, his 
 private chamberlain, who, with his three faithful attendants, 
 alone knew of his secret visits, learnt that the Regent 
 would be away from the Potala that evening, and the 
 Dalai Lama contrived to let his sister know. 
 
 Philip joined them, and they spent a happy evening 
 together. The Pantchen had much improved in health, 
 his spirits being proportionately higher. Lotzung was 
 delighted at the change which had taken place in him. It 
 would have been hard to find a merrier trio in Lhasa that 
 night. 
 
 " What do you think, Lotzung, of your elderly admirer, 
 the Chinese Amban ? " asked Philip. 
 
 Lotzung laughed. 
 
 " So you know about his stopping me this morning ? " 
 
 " I was in a shop close to where he met you, and I heard 
 all that passed." 
 
 " I do not like the Senior Amban," observed the Dalai 
 Lama. " What did he say to you, Lotzung ? " 
 
 " He said some foolish things about my looks, but I 
 would not listen to him." 
 
 " You have not heard the last of him yet," said PhiUp. 
 " Do you know that he sent some one to follow you ? " 
 
 220 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " He would only learn that I was the chief Khalon's 
 niece, and then he would not trouble me again. He knows 
 that my uncle likes the Chinese as little as my father does." 
 
 " Do not be too sure that the affair is finished, Lotzung," 
 rejoined Philip in a spirit of raillery. " I should not won- 
 der if he sent you an offer of marriage." 
 
 Lotzimg dismissed the suggestion with a shake of the 
 head, but she would not have regarded the matter so lightly 
 if she had heard the conversation between Tsering and 
 Tuen Fang that evening. It was true that the Regent did 
 not giVe Tuen Fang any prospect of success in his suit, and 
 that they parted without coming to an imderstanding with 
 regard to it. But as the two men were in need of each 
 other's support, a compact might be arranged at any time 
 between them. 
 
 Tuen Fang lay in the drunken stupor induced by opium 
 aU through the night and late into the following day. 
 Shortly after three o'clock, however, he awoke with the 
 throbbing headache which usually accompanies a debauch 
 of this kind. At first he could hardly move or speak, but 
 his attendant brought him some strong tea, and after drink- 
 ing two or three cups he was able to sit up and collect his 
 thoughts. 
 
 These were of the most depressing character. The re- 
 action from which an opium smoker suffers on awakening 
 from his artificial sleep is most severe. The nerves are 
 thoroughly relaxed and the most acute depression sets in. 
 As the conversation of the previous evening gradudly came 
 back to him Tuen Fang began to feel that he had hope- 
 lessly estranged the Regent. Never very self-reHant, he 
 now believed that he had set not only the Tibetan laity 
 but the lamas against him. Why had he been so foolish as 
 to quarrel with Tsering, by whose help alone he could main- 
 tain a secure position in Lhasa ? He recalled the Regent's 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 satirical allusion to his popularity amongst the townsfolk 
 and his reference to the ten thousand monks of Sera, who 
 had once put to death the two Chinese Ambans. In the 
 pitiable state of collapse in which he found himself, Tuen 
 Fang fancied that he heard these redoubtable lamas 
 already marching on his palace. What could his Chinese 
 soldiers do against them ? He had himself reduced their 
 numbers by one third, and spent the money thus saved on 
 his pleasures. Those who remained were poorly armed, 
 and the Sera lamas could rout them with the greatest ease. 
 
 In his nervous condition these thoughts worked the 
 Amban up into such a state of terror that he could no longer 
 remain in the house. He felt that he would not be safe till 
 he had apologized to the Regent for his rudeness of the 
 previous evening, and offered to do what he desired in con- 
 nection with the Dalai Lama. Accordingly he ordered his 
 palanquin and, scrambhng hurriedly into it, told his bearers 
 to take him to the Potala. 
 
 Tuen Fang found the Regent busy looking through 
 dispatches. The smile of welcome with which he greeted 
 his visitor lifted a load off the Amban's mind. He had half 
 expected to be denounced. Tsering pointed to a couch, 
 and Tuen Fang sank into it with a sigh of relief, for his 
 tottering legs were hardly equal to the weight of his body. 
 
 " I hope I am not interrupting you in the midst of im- 
 portant buisness ? " he began apologetically. 
 
 " I have no business so important that it cannot be laid 
 aside to receive the Chinese Amban," replied Tsering. 
 
 The Regent evidently wished to be conciliatory, and the 
 fact encouraged Tuen Fang. 
 
 " I have been thinking over our conversation last night," 
 he began. 
 
 " Ah, yes, our conversation last night," repeated Tsering, 
 anxious to hear what the Amban had come to say. 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " You were talking of the Dalai Lama's indisposition, 
 and saying that the Emperor ought to hear of it." 
 
 " I certainly think that he should be informed of the 
 fact." 
 
 " In writing to him, what shall I say is the nature of the 
 iUness ? " 
 
 Tsering with difficulty restrained a smile, the Amban's 
 volte-face was so complete. 
 
 " I think we had better call it nervous prostration, arising 
 from a too zealous observance of the discipline to which 
 Dalai Lamas are accustomed to subject theinselves. You 
 can, of course, point out that I do all in my power to pre- 
 vent him sacrificing his health to such high ideals of duty, 
 but that hitherto my powers of persuasion have been used 
 without effect." 
 
 " Is the illness to be regarded as critical ? " 
 
 " Not at present, though I cannot say how soon it may 
 become so. Meanwhile I shall suspend the Dalai Lama's 
 audiences, and cancel all his engagements." 
 
 " A dispatch to the Emperor shall be prepared at once," 
 said Tuen Fang, rising. " And with regard to the way in 
 which I spoke to you last night, is it agreed that we forget 
 all about it ? A man is not responsible for everything he 
 says when smoking opium." 
 
 " Agreed ! we will work together in our own and each 
 other's interests. That reminds me. What can we do 
 about the chief Khalon's niece ? I do not see that there 
 would be any objection to your submitting to him a formal 
 offer for the girl's hand. If not welcomed as an honour, it 
 must at any rate be regarded as a compliment. If he 
 refuses we must think of some other plan." 
 
 " I will do as you propose," replied the Amban, " and 
 between us we shall doubtless fjnd some way to forward 
 both your interests and mine." 
 
 223 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 As soon as Tuen Fang got home he sat down and wrote 
 a dispatch to the Emperor, in which he alluded to the illness 
 of the Dalai Lama, and hinted that though not immediately 
 serious it might take a turn for the worse at any moment. 
 With regard, however, to Tsering's proposal that he should 
 write to Rashwa, making a formal proposal for Lotzung's 
 hand, the Amban's nerves were not yet sufficiently steady 
 to take such a step. Even supposing he applied to her 
 uncle, it was very unlikely that the Khalon would be able to 
 act without consulting her father. If Phala were consulted 
 there would be an end of the matter at once. Tuen Fang 
 had not forgotten the independent tone which the Deba had 
 adopted towards him. He preferred to leave things as they 
 were till he should feel in a better humour for dealing with 
 them. 
 
 A week passed, and Tuen Fang might have forgotten all 
 about Lotzung if fate had not once more put her in his path. 
 This time he happened to enter a store where the young 
 girl was making purchases. On seeing the Senior Amban 
 the storekeeper left Lotzung and, prostrating himself 
 before the mandarin, asked what were his commands. 
 Tuen Fang, in the most affable tones, replied that he was 
 in no hurry, and that the storekeeper must first supply the 
 wants of the young girl who had entered the store before 
 himself. This was a most unusual act of condescension on 
 the part of a mandarin, and Lotzung could not do less than 
 thank him for it . As she concluded her purchases Tuen Fang 
 talked to her in a pleasant, unassertive manner, and when 
 she had finished he bade his retinue in loud tones to make 
 way for her, taking leave af her himself with a ceremonious 
 bow. Lotzung left the shop with the feeling that she had 
 met many more objectionable people than the Senior 
 Amban. 
 
 As for Tuen Fang, this interview revived in its full force 
 
 224 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 his admiration for the chief Khalon's niece. Her cheeks 
 had a more beautiful bloom, her dark eyes a brighter lustre, 
 and her voice a sweeter tone than ever. Still more welcome 
 was the absence of that freedom, he might almost call it 
 insolence, with which she had treated him at their previous 
 meeting, and which he never thought of attributing to his 
 own conduct on that occasion. Since his last interview 
 with Tsering he had refrained from opium smoking. His 
 nerves were consequently in a better state, and he decided 
 to send a formal offer for Lotzung's hand to her uncle and 
 present guardian, Rashwa. 
 
 The composing of the letter took him some time, as he 
 wished to embellish it with ornate phraseology and poetical 
 conceits. At length the epistle took the following form, 
 which, though not as beautiful as he would have wished, 
 was the best his powers of invention could supply. 
 
 " To the most potent nobleman, Rashwa, Chief Khalon 
 of the Holy City of Lhasa, greeting. 
 
 " Your contemptible servant, Tuen Fang, Senior Amban, 
 and representative in Tibet of His Majesty the Emperor of 
 China, hereby humbly offers himself as a suitor for the hand 
 of the Khalon's niece. Although a person of such mean 
 extraction is not worthy to make an alliance with this 
 heaven-born lady, yet he trusts that the Khalon will lend 
 a favourable ear to his petition. The lady is in the spring 
 of youth, while the Amban is in the autumn of his years. 
 Nevertheless, as like is often better yoked to unlike than 
 like to like, so may the Khalon not deem it unfitting that 
 her tender age should consort with his full maturity. Such 
 is the prayer of Tuen Fang, Chinese Ambassador." 
 
 This letter, enclosed in an enormous Chinese ehvelope, was 
 dispatched by special messenger to the chief Khalon's house. 
 Rashwa happened to be in, and, after reading the effusion, 
 sent back an acknowledgment by the same messenger, 
 
 p 225 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 saying that the Senior Amban's illustrious communication 
 had been duly received and was having his immediate 
 attention. The matter did, in fact, occupy Rashwa's 
 thoughts for some little time after the answer had been 
 sent. He recognized that in several ways such a marriage 
 would advance his interests. Tuen Fang had no wife, 
 legal or otherwise, living with him in Lhasa, and Lotzung's 
 position would be an influential one, as long as he remained 
 ambassador there. She might even release him from 
 'Tsering's toils and assist in the discomfiture and final over- 
 throw of the autocratic Regent. 
 
 On the other hand Rashwa, who was not inclined on 
 every occasion to subordinate his private feelings to the 
 exigencies of politics, shrank from allowing his niece to be 
 sacrificed to such an undesirable specimen of the Chinese 
 nation as Tuen Fang. The Amban might get tired of her 
 in a few months, and then her position would be little better 
 than one of his servants. It was even possible that he 
 might use her as a means of extracting concessions from her 
 relations by threatening to ill-treat her if they refused to 
 grant them. In any case, the two people principally con- 
 cerned, Lotzung and her father, should first be consulted in 
 the matter. It would take some time to communicate with 
 Phala, but Lotzung could be seen at once. She soon ap- 
 peared in response to her uncle's summons. 
 
 " I have just received a letter from the Senior Amban, 
 which concerns you," he began. 
 
 " Concerns me ? " exclaimed Lotzung in surprise. " I 
 have only met him twice. The first time was in the 
 street, when he behaved in a foolish fashion ; the second 
 time was in a store, and he made some amends for his 
 conduct." 
 
 " He wishes to make still further amends," said Rashwa. 
 " In fact, he has sent you an offer of marriage." 
 
 226 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " But I do riot want to marry him. He is a Chinaman, 
 and I dislike Chinamen." 
 
 " Yet he is a most important person, and if he chose to 
 exercise his rights more powerful than the Regent himself. 
 You would be a great lady, with garments of the finest silk, 
 and a number of servants to do your bidding." 
 
 " All that is nothing if I did not like my husband. I 
 would rather work in your house than be Tuen Fang's wife 
 and have all the luxuries you speak of." 
 
 Rashwa was pleased with Lotzung's reply. 
 
 " You are a good girl, Lotzung," he said, " and I am glad 
 that you do not want to leave me, for I should miss you 
 very much. I shaU tell the Amban that this is a matter 
 which your parents alone can decide." 
 
 Accordingly that same evening Rashwa sat down to 
 compose a reply to the Senior Amban's letter. It required 
 some thought, for he was anxious not to make an enemy of 
 Tuen Fang. He began, therefore, by declaring how sen- 
 sible he was of the great honour which the Senior Amban 
 was willing to confer upon his niece ; that he would be very 
 proud of being connected by marriage with the chief ambas- 
 sador of the Chinese Emperor in Tibet ; but that he was 
 obliged to conform to the customs of his country, and, being 
 only the uncle of the girl in question, he would have to refer 
 the matter to her parents. Rashwa then added, as though 
 Tuen Fang would probably be ignorant of the fact, that 
 Lotzung's father was Phala, Deba of the Namcho district. 
 
 Although the Senior Amban had not expected any other 
 answer, yet he was very much annoyed when he received it. 
 Of course, it would be useless for him to apply to Phala, 
 even if he could have subjected his pride to so humiliating 
 a course. 
 
 The letter, however, required an answer, and he replied, 
 thanking the chief Khalon for giving the name and address 
 
 227 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 of Lotzung's father, and saying that he would take the first 
 opportunity of laying his suit before him. This done, the 
 question arose, what should his next step be ? He was 
 more than ever confirmed in his desire to possess Lotzung, 
 though he could think of no plan for compassing that end. 
 All he could do would be to call on Tsering, who had advised 
 him to make the application to Rashwa, and who, now that 
 it had failed, should suggest the next best course to take. 
 Tsering received the Senior Amban with much cordiaUty. 
 Things had been going very well for him during the past 
 week. Tuen Fang had written the letter to the Emperor 
 of China which was so necessary to the furtherance of his 
 plans. If the Chinese Ambassador as well as the lamas of 
 Sera, were on his side, the laymen of Lhasa could effect little 
 against him. He saw that the chief Khalon recognized this, 
 for he had kept in the background of late, asking no 
 explanations when the Dalai Lama was withheld from the 
 public and his audiences cancelled. The report that the 
 latter was in delicate health seemed to be generally believed. 
 His death in two or three weeks' time might consequently 
 cause but little surprise. That the end could not be delayed 
 much longer the Regent had already decided. The boy had 
 shown for the first time that he possessed, if not a will, at 
 any rate opinions of his own. When he was told that he 
 must hold no more audiences till his health improved, he 
 replied that he was quite well enough to hold such func- 
 tions, and that it was his wish for them to be continued. 
 Only after much time and recourse on the Regent's part to 
 strong measures had the boy ceased from his protestations. 
 Tsering had always found this trouble with the Grand Lamas 
 as they grew up. How could it be in the interests of the 
 country that it should be governed by a headstrong child, 
 with no experience of the world, instead of by a man with 
 thirty years' schooling in statecraft ? By such arguments 
 
 228 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 did Tsering attempt to quiet his conscience for his contem- 
 plated crime. 
 
 " Does the Senior Amban bring news from China ? " he 
 aSked as soon as his visitor was seated. 
 
 " I have not come to talk of politics, but of my own 
 affairs," replied Tuen Fang. " I followed your advice 
 about the chief Khalon's niece and sent him a formal offer 
 for her hand." 
 
 " And what did he reply ? " 
 
 " He referred me to her parents." 
 
 " That is inconvenient," Tsering rejoined. " I hoped that 
 he might have taken upon himself the responsibility for 
 arranging a marriage which would be so advantageous for 
 his family. But perhaps after all it will be best to <ieal 
 direct with the father. Although banished from the capital 
 Phala is stUl a powerful man. He would be flattered by 
 the aUiance, and it would be useful to get him on our side." 
 
 Tuen Fang was angered by this cool proposal, consider- 
 ing that Tsering was aware of the independent manner in 
 which Phala had treated the Amban. 
 
 " I am obliged for your suggestion, which, however, is 
 one which I shaU not adopt," he answered. ' ' As for Phala's 
 power, I am not afraid of it. As I took no part in his 
 banishment from Lhasa I have nothing to fear in that 
 quarter." 
 
 The Regent fixed his small black eyes on Tuen Fang with 
 a look of angry inquiry. What did he mean by these words ? 
 Did he intend to withdraw from their mutual compact ? 
 Tsering came to the conclusion that the Amban's wild 
 defiance after a bout of opium smoking was preferable to 
 his present state of cool determination. 
 
 " It is Rashwa's suggestion, not my own," the Regent 
 replied. " How else can it be done ? " 
 
 " That is the question which I came to ask you, but it 
 
 229 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 seems that you have no answer to it. I shall have to find 
 a way for myself." 
 
 The Regent saw that the matter was getting serious. If 
 Tuen Fang were foolish enough to try and carry Lotzung 
 off by force in the open daylight a rising would undoubtedly 
 occur, which would endanger not only the Amban but him- 
 self. He must be warned against taking such a course. 
 
 " Be careful what you do, for my countrymen are head- 
 strong when a grievance once induces them to rise. Try 
 and think of some pacific means of carrjdng out your wish, 
 and I will do the same. Above all, let me know your plan. 
 If I approve of it I will do my best to help you. If not, I 
 will promise at any rate to put no obstacles in your way." 
 
 230 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 TUEN FANG returned to his palace congratulating 
 himself on his recent interview with the Regent. A 
 show of lirmness had compelled Tsering to support him in 
 his plans. It would of course be rash to attempt to 
 carry Lotzung off by force from her uncle's house. Such 
 an action would no doubt raise a storm of indignation 
 which might very possibly end in a revolt. But there 
 were other ways of obtaining possession of Lotzung than 
 by mere force, and to these the Amban devoted a brain 
 famiUar from infancy to such devious methods. Though ^ 
 Lotzung could not be persuaded to enter his house of her 
 own accord, it was possible that she might be decoyed to 
 some place from which she could be conveyed to the Amban's 
 residence without leaving any clue to her disappearance. 
 
 Nothing, however, could be done till more had been 
 lecimt of her daUy habits, the stores at which she shopped, 
 and the friends she went to see. For this purpose she must 
 be closely watched, and the person whom Tuen Fang selected 
 for the work was Jasi. The latter owed Rashwa a grudge 
 for having persuaded his brother Khalons that the evidence 
 which he wished to give against Philip was altogether un- 
 reliable. The Ladaki, therefore, set about his task with such 
 perseverance that Lotzung was shadowed from the time she 
 left the house till she returned to it again. Yet neither the 
 young girl herself nor any of the household had reason to 
 suspect that all her movements were thus closely watched. 
 
 Matters went on in this way for two or three weeks, with- 
 out anything being discovered to forward the end which 
 Tuen Fang had in view Lotzung would go out shopping in 
 
 231 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the morning, and for an occasional walk in the afternoon, but 
 she kept to the main thoroughfares, and was always accom- 
 panied by Champa. The problem became a difficult one. 
 If she would only visit some friends in the outskirts of the 
 town, or if she went out after dark, the matter would be 
 easier. But she did neither, for Jasi used to watch the 
 house from sundown to midnight. 
 
 Tuen Fang began to think of desperate means, when the 
 Ladaki made an important discovery. At ten o'clock one 
 night, as he was dozing in a doorway opposite Rashwa's 
 house, an unexplained impulse made him open his eyes just 
 in tiijie to see Lotzung slip out accompanied by her dog. 
 She crossed the road and passed so close to him that her 
 skirt almost brushed against his knee, though he himself 
 was unnoticed by her. Walking quickly down the street, 
 she took a turning to the right. Jasi was on his feet in an 
 instant, hurrying after her. Here was his opportunity, 
 and he must make the most of it. 
 
 The Ladaki followed his quarry at barely fifty paces 
 distant, his boots of untanned hide making no sound upon 
 the iU-paved road. As he went he planned his course of 
 action. Hitherto during his night watches he had been 
 accompanied by another, of the Amban's servants to help 
 him effect the capture if Lotzung should venture out after 
 dusk. As she had never done so he had allowed his com- 
 panion to go away this evening for the first time. Between 
 them they could easily have seized the young girl in the 
 deserted streets and carried her off to their master's house. 
 Jasi was almost inclined to make the attempt by himself. 
 If she were securely gagged and bound he could hide her in 
 an empty cellar or in the doorway of a deserted house till he 
 could obtain assistance from the Amban's household. The 
 only obstacle to carrying out this programme was the 
 presence of Champa. 
 
 232 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 This Tibetan mastiff was indeed sufficiently formidable 
 to make any one wary of attacking his mistress. Jasi had 
 for some time past carried poisoned meat with him. Here 
 was an opportunity of administering it to some purpose. 
 The Ladaki knew Lhasa well, and slipping down a by-road 
 he regained the street along which Lotzung was walking at 
 a point some little distance ahead of her. At this spot he 
 dropped a piece of poisoned meat, and took shelter in a 
 doorway to see if the bait was taken. 
 
 Lotzung soon approached, walking at a quick pace, with 
 Champa trotting quietly at her side. He reached the spot 
 where the bait lay, and to Jasi's chagrin had actually passed 
 it, when he suddenly stopped, nosed the ground, and worked 
 his way back again. On finding the meat he gulped it 
 down and cantered after his mistress, with no doubt a 
 twinge of conscience at having deserted her for even so 
 short a space of time. 
 
 Jasi walked briskly after them, exulting in the success 
 of his snare. The poison was powerful and the dog might 
 be in his death throes at any moment. Eager to see the 
 effect of the drug he crept up quite close behind thd couple. 
 In his hands he held a long, thick silken scarf. No one was to 
 be seen in the street. A^ soon as Champa fell, what would be 
 easier than to spring upon the girl from behind, throw the 
 scarf over her mouth, and effectually gag her? Then, with a 
 rope which he carried in the folds of his garment, he could 
 bind her hand and foot and drag her into some sheltered 
 nook while he ran to get assistance from the Amban's palace. 
 
 But the poison was already beginning to take effect. 
 Champa would stop every now and again, shaking his head 
 and making a guttural noise, as if a bone had stuck in his 
 throat. Lotzung's attention was at length attracted, and 
 she called the mastiff to her Jasi shrunk into the shadow 
 of a house and watched the faithful animal struggle forward 
 to have his shaggy head caressed by Lotzung's hand. 
 
 233 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " What is the matter, Champa ? " she said. " I have 
 never seen you go on Uke this before. Has something stuck 
 in your throat, or have you got a cough ? Never mind, we 
 shall soon reach the house." 
 
 Champa gave a little whine of pleasure at her touch and 
 once more struggled to keep up with her. Why was he such 
 a long time dying, Jasi asked himself. From Lotzung's 
 words it was plain that she would soon reach her destina- 
 tion, when this unusually favourable opportunity would 
 be lost for ever. Why not seize her now ? Champa, al- 
 though not dead, was too weak to offer any serious resist- 
 ance. Jasi determined that if the animal did not collapse 
 within the next hundred paces he would make the attempt. 
 
 Meanwhile Champa began to lag behind again. The 
 poison seemed to have taken possession of his legs, for he 
 dragged them after him with an effort. Surely it would be 
 foolishness to wait any longer, the Ladaki thought. Someone 
 might come down the street, or Lotzung might reach the 
 house she intended to visit. Jasi summoned all his courage 
 and crept up stealthily behind her. Soon he was on a level 
 with Champa, who merely looked up at him out of the corner 
 of his eye and tried to mend his pace. A few steps further, 
 being within easy reach of his prey, he raised the scarf in the 
 air, and was on the point of throwing it over Lotzung's head 
 when the door of a courtyard, belonging to a house a little 
 further on, opened and threw a feeble light across the street. 
 Jasi shrank back, and Lotzung with her mastiff entered 
 the courtyard. The Ladaki was too late after all. 
 
 Burning with vexation Jasi sat down in a doorway and 
 considered what his next step should be. It would be use- 
 less for him to enter the house and try single-handed to 
 carry Lotzung off. There must be other people in it, and 
 even if they lacked the courage to oppose him, they could 
 at any rate raise the alarm. Whilst thinking the matter 
 over he caught sight of three figures coming down the street. 
 
 234 
 
A Wife fi-om the Forbidden Land 
 
 As they drew nearer it became evident that two of them 
 were carrying a palanquin. Only very high officials were 
 allowed to ride in palanquins. What could one of this class 
 want in an out-of-the-way corner of the town at that hour 
 of the night ? Jasi concealed himself from view and waited. 
 
 The curtains of the palanquin proved to be drawn, so that 
 he could catch no glimpse of its occupant. But his sur- 
 prise was great when, after passing the spot at which he 
 stood, it entered the door of the courtyard through which 
 Lotzung had lately passed. Jasi followed stealthily, and 
 took up his position in a dark corner of the yard, from 
 which he could see the occupant descend at the entrance to 
 the house. This to his astonishment proved to be a boy, 
 whom he recognized at once eis the Dalai Lama. There 
 was no one to receive him, but this he seemed to have ex- 
 pected, and ran hastily up the stairs leading to the first 
 floor. Jasi knew that Lotzung was the Dalai Lama's sister, 
 and surmised that they wished to keep the interview secret, 
 or they would not have met in this quarter of the town 
 between ten and eleven o'clock at night. 
 
 The Grand Lama's attendants put the palanquin under 
 shelter and then sat down at the foot of the steps to await 
 their master's return. Jasi was anxious to slip out of the 
 courtyard to give information to the Amban, but these men 
 commanded a view of the only exit. Once more the Ladaki 
 lamented having allowed his companion to go away. Both 
 the Regent and Amban would like to be informed of this 
 meeting. Yet how was it to be done with the Dalai Lama's 
 attendants watching the courtyard door ? 
 
 At length one of these three men stood up and, walking 
 to the centre of the yard, looked up at the sky as if to judge 
 what the weather was likely to be. He was smoking a 
 wooden pipe, and as he drew in the smoke the glowing 
 embers of the tobacco threw a ruddy glow upon his face and 
 seemed to illumine the whole of the yard. He did not, 
 
 23S 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 however, catch sight of Jasi, and after another glance at the 
 sky, he turned to rejoin the other two. 
 
 Here was Jasi's chance. While the man's back was 
 turned, and he was partially obstructing the view of his 
 two companions, the Ladaki made a dash for the door. He 
 passed it without attracting the notice of the Dalai Lama's 
 servants and reached the street in safety. Once clear of 
 the building Jasi ran as hard as he could to the Amban's 
 house. On gaining it he learnt that the Regent was with 
 Tuen Fang. Knowing that his master would not like him 
 to disclose before Tsering the nature of the work on which 
 he had been employed, he sent in a note saying that he had 
 some important private information to give him. Tuen 
 Fang made his excuses and came out to see the Ladaki. 
 
 " I have just traced Lotzung to a house in a quiet portion 
 of the town," said Jasi. 
 
 " Why did you not seize her on the way to it ? " de- 
 manded his master angrily. " Now she is under shelter 
 you can do nothing." 
 
 " I found she had arranged to meet her brother, the 
 Dalai Lama, there." 
 
 " The Dalai Lama ! " exclaimed Tuen Fang incredu- 
 lously. " He never leaves the Potala." 
 
 " Yet he is undoubtedly with his sister now. I know 
 him well by sight and saw him enter the house." 
 
 If Jasi's story were true Tuen Fang knew that an ex- 
 ceptional opportunity was afforded him of carrying out 
 his cherished project. 
 
 " The Regent is with me to-night," he said ; " I will tell 
 him your tale." 
 
 On rejoining Tsering the Amban plunged into the matter 
 at once. 
 
 " I am told that the Dalai Lama is now at a house in the 
 outskirts of the city with his sister Lotzung." 
 
 Tsering realized from Tuen Fang's manner that the story 
 
 336 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 was probably true, and though much astonished at the news, 
 retained his usual composure of expression. 
 
 " You can rely upon your information, I conclude ? " 
 he answered. 
 
 " I have no reason to doubt my informant," replied Tuen 
 Fang. 
 
 " We must go to the house at once then," continued the 
 Regent. " I will send the Dalai Lama back to the Potala ; 
 and as to his sister, well — she had better be lodged at the 
 Senior Amban's residence, pending an inquiry. You un- 
 derstand me ? " 
 
 Tuen Fang rubbed his hands with delight at the turn 
 which events had taken. 
 
 " I understand, of course. The affair must be kept quite 
 secret. Let us start without delay. I wUl tell the officer 
 of my bodyguard to send two dozen troops with us." 
 
 " Two dozen soldiers to arrest two children ! " exclaimed 
 Tsering scornfully. " It would be ridiculous. Besides, 
 that is not the way to keep the matter secret." 
 
 " My bodyguard would not dare to utter a word if once 
 ordered to be silent. Still, as you object to the number, 
 I will content myself with one dozen." 
 
 Tuen Fang was much too nervous to pass through the 
 streets of Lhasa at night without an armed escort, and 
 Tsering let him have his way. He told Jasi, however, to 
 stop them at the corner of the street containing the house 
 where the Dalai Lama and his sister had met, as they would 
 walk the rest of the way without attendance. Tuen Fang 
 verbally consented to this arrangement, though when the 
 Regent had entered his palanquin he took the officer of 
 the detachment aside and told him to bring his troops on 
 to the house without fail when a sufficient interval of time 
 had elapsed. 
 
 It was not very long before Jasi stopped the palanquins 
 
 237 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 as instructed, and their occupants got out and walked. 
 The Ladaki, who led them, and who feared that the Dalai 
 Lama and his sister might have left the house by this time, 
 was much relieved to find the courtyard door still open and 
 the Grand Lama's bearers waiting for their master at the 
 bottom of the stairs. These poor men were terrified when 
 they saw the Regent, and, falling on their knees, knocked 
 their heads against the ground, crying, "Laso, Laso, be 
 merciful, be merciful ! " Tsering shot a withering glance 
 at them from his keen black eyes, and waving them aside 
 began to mount the steps. Tuen Fang, finding that he 
 encountered no armed resistance, grew very brave, and, 
 kicking one of them as he passed, followed in the Regent's 
 wake. Jasi discreetly remained below. 
 
 On the first floor, which was dimly lighted by a single 
 lamp, the Regent halted. From a room on the left of the 
 passage two voices could be heard. He recognized one of 
 them as the voice of the Dalai Lama, and he did not doubt 
 that the other was his sister's. With a lowering counten- 
 ance he strode to the door, threw it open, but came to a 
 standstill on the threshold. For in addition to the Grand 
 Lama, who remained composed in spite of the surprise, 
 and to Lotzung, who uttered a smothered cry, a third person 
 could be seen in the room. He was a powerful young man, 
 who had snatched up a stool as the nearest weapon to his 
 hand, and was prepared to aim a blow at any one who ven- 
 tured to intrude. The Dalai Lama was the first to speak. 
 
 " Put down the stool, Khangsar," he said. " Do you 
 not see it is the Regent ? " 
 
 Philip observing that Tsering was unarmed and alone — 
 for Tuen Fang had wisely kept himself out of view — laid 
 aside his weapon, and the Regent said with an ironical smile : 
 
 " I am sorry to disturb this pleasant little party, but it is 
 time that the Dalai Lama returned to the Potala." 
 
 238 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 The boy rose to his ieet at once. 
 
 " I am ready, Tsering," he answered. " I know I did 
 wrong in coming here without informing you of my intention, 
 but I was very anxious to see my sister, and I was afraid 
 that you would find some reason why I should not do so." 
 
 " A Dalai Lama has no relations, and should not concern 
 himself with earthly ties." 
 
 The boy's eyes filled with tears. He had grown much 
 thinner and more delicate since Philip had seen him last, 
 and his will was no match for that of the autocratic Regent. 
 
 " At any rate my faults should not be visited on innocent 
 people. I assure you that neither my sister nor this Eastern 
 Mongol, Khangsar, are to blame, and you must promise me 
 that they shall not be punished." 
 
 " Why should they be ? " rejoined Tsering. " You may 
 safely leave them in my hands." 
 
 " And the three bearers below ? " continued the Pant- 
 chen. " You will not have them flogged ? " 
 
 " I will respect the Dalai Lama's wishes." 
 
 The poor boy's anxious face lightened. 
 
 " I thank you for your promise, Tsering. Good-bye, 
 Lotzung ; farewell, Khangsar. You have heard the Regent 
 say that no harm shall be done to you." 
 
 He embraced his sister, who was weeping silently, and 
 left the room. The Regent, however, did not quit his post 
 at the door, and, when he thought sufficient time had elapsed 
 for the Dalai Lama to be clear of the premises, he turned to 
 Phihp and said — 
 
 "Although, in accordance with my promise, I do not 
 intend to punish you, you will have to ac(fompany me to 
 the Potala to be examined with regard to this matter." 
 
 Philip's first thought was of Lotzung. 
 
 " You wUl allow me first to conduct this young girl to 
 her uncle's house ? " he said. 
 
 239 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " I will provide her with a proper escort for that purpose. 
 Come, let us waste no more words." 
 
 Philip was being sorely tempted to thrust the Regent 
 aside and carry Lotzung off, when the tramp of feet could be 
 heard on the landing, and Tuen Fang made his appearance 
 with a dozen Chinese soldiers. The cowardly Amban 
 quailed before Philip's resolute look, and fell back a step 
 or two as if he expected an immediate attack. The young 
 man was, indeed, within an ace of delivering it, but pru- 
 dence fortunately prevailed. He had no weapon on his 
 person, and he could not hope to get Lotzung safely past 
 a dozen armed men. Accordingly he said — 
 
 " I wiU bid you farewell, Lotzung. The Regent has 
 promised to do us no harm, and the ruler of Tibet may be 
 trusted to keep his word." 
 
 " I am not afraid for myself, dear Khangsar," answered 
 Lotzung, her eyes still filled with tears. " They dare not 
 treat me ill. But if they punish you merely for being found 
 in the same room ,as my brother and myself, they will find 
 that I have both an uncle and a father to come to your aid." 
 
 Philip" was marched downstairs and out into the-street 
 \yith three armed soldiers in front and three behind him. 
 He felt no alarm on his own account. Since the chief Khalon 
 had found the means of shutting Jasi's mouth there was 
 little fear of his being denounced as a peling, and, as Lot- 
 zung said, they could hardly punish him for being found 
 with the Dalai Lama and his sister. It was for the Pantchen 
 that the young Englishman felt the most concern. If he 
 looked so much worse for the interruption to his visits to 
 Philip's lodgings, what would he be like when they ceased 
 altogether ? It was fortunate that Lotzung, at any rate, 
 was still free to work on behalf of her brother, so that he 
 was not yet cut off from aU outside help. 
 
 240 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 PHILIP'S concern for his two young friends would have 
 been much greater if he had seen what occurred on 
 his departure from his lodgings. The Regent, instead of 
 providing Lotzung with the escort he had promised, ex- 
 changed a few words in an undertone with Tuen Fang, and 
 then, descending the staircase, went off in his palanquin. 
 Lotzung was left facing the Chinese Amban, who had sent 
 his soldiers down below and stood alone in the doOrway. 
 The young girl was in no humour for talking to Tuen Fang, 
 and so, drying her tears, she said — 
 
 " Please let me pass, I wish to go home." 
 
 But the Amban did not attempt to move, and with a 
 smile of would-be gallantry replied — 
 
 " Surely there is no hurry. The hour is yet early. Let 
 us have a httle talk before you start." 
 
 He evidently meant to bar her exit from the room. 
 What would she not have given to have had the trusty 
 Champa with her now ? But the poor animal had only 
 just managed to reach the house, and though Philip, 
 suspecting poison, had given him an antidote and put him 
 xmder Mantso's care, he would not be able, even supposing 
 he were still alive, to repeat the service he had done her 
 on the occasion of her first meeting with Tuen Fang. 
 
 " I wish to return to tny uncle's house at once," she 
 answered. " If you do not let me go I will call for help." 
 
 But Tuen Fang did not want a disturbance of this 
 character, and, withdrawing from the doorway, he said — 
 
 " Allow me at any rate to escort you downstairs." 
 
 Lotzung at once took advantage of the freedom offered 
 
 Q 241 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 her, and ran lightly downstairs in front of him, wishing to 
 escape from him as quickly as possible. On reaching the 
 courtyard, however, she found the outer door guarded by 
 the Amban's soldiers. 
 
 " Are you going to detain me here by force ? " she asked 
 Tuen Fang, who now came panting after her. 
 
 " I should not think of treating the chief Khalon's niece 
 in such a manner," he replied. " The soldiers were stationed 
 in the doorway to prevent the entrance of inquisitive 
 persons. You shall go home in my palanquin, it is weiiting 
 ready for you." 
 
 But Lotzung began to suspect the Amban's designs, and 
 said — 
 
 " I prefer to walk, thank you. I shall get there quite as 
 quickly." 
 
 " Well, if you must go on foot," rejoined Tuen Fang, 
 raising his voice, " why " 
 
 The last word weis hardly out of his mouth when Jasi, 
 who had crept up unseen behind Lotzung, threw his khata 
 over her head, and winding it round several times secured 
 it firmly. The poor girl tried to scream, but her voice was 
 stifled so effectually that she could not make herself heard. 
 She was then bound hand and foot, lifted into the Amban's 
 palanquin, and carried quietly but swiftly to his home. 
 Tuen Fang followed on foot with the remainder of his 
 soldiers, greatly pleased by his successful coup. 
 
 Meanwhile Mantso, who had gone out before the arrival 
 of Tsering and the Senior Amban to supply an unexpected 
 deficiency in Philip's larder, now returned just after Tuen 
 Fang had left the building. Knowing nothing of what had 
 bccurred he ran upstairs to the kitchen and began to cook 
 the supper. As soon as it was ready he gave the usual 
 signal by tapping three times on the landing outside. 
 Philip had been in the habit of taking the supper down 
 
 242 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 himself, and not allowing his servant to enter the room 
 occupied by the Dalai Lama and Lotzung, though Mantso 
 usually contrived to catch sight of them either on their 
 arrival or as they left. 
 
 When, however, there came no response to the signal, 
 and he could not hear any voices in the room below, Mantso 
 descended to the door of the apartment. All was silent, and 
 he ventured to open it. No one was there, though in the 
 light of its single lamp it was plain that the room had been 
 recently occupied. Perhaps the Dalai Lama had been 
 taken ill, and it had been thought best that he should return 
 to the Potala at once. The landlord and his wife might be 
 able to throw some light upon the matter, and Mantso 
 descended to the ground-floor to ask them. 
 
 After knocking two or three times the door was opened 
 caXitiously and the landlord made his appearance in an 
 evident state of alarm. On seeing Mantso, however, he 
 seemed more at ease and asked what he wanted. 
 
 " I find that my master and his friends on the first floor 
 have gone. Do you know when they left ? " 
 
 " I know nothing about them," replied the man curtly, 
 as if he were anxious to avoid the subject. " When the 
 young girl took these rooms on the first floor she said that 
 a high official of the state would occasionally visit them, 
 and that my wife and myself were to keep out of the way 
 when he did so." 
 
 " Then you can tell me nothing," continued Mantso. 
 
 " Nothing at all. My wife and I kept to these quarters 
 all the evening. To judge from the sounds we heard there 
 certainly seemed to be more visitors than usual ; but we 
 do not know who they were nor where they went." 
 
 There was nothing for Mantso to do but go upstairs again 
 and await his master's return. He found Champa still 
 alive, but in a kind of torpor and breathing heavily. After 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Philip had administered the antidote the animal had been 
 seized several times by a violent kind of fit, as though the 
 poison and its antidote were struggling for the possession 
 of the body. The fight was now over, and in the course of 
 an hour or two it would be known with whom the victory 
 rested. 
 
 Midnight came and Philip did not return. On former 
 occasions, when he saw Lotzung home, he had not been 
 absent at the most for more than half an hour. To-night 
 he might have gone with the Dalai Lama as far as the 
 Potala, and even entered the building itself. So far there 
 was no occasion to be seriously alarmed, and Mantso settled 
 down to a solitary vigil. 
 
 The monotony of this occupation soon caused the faithful 
 Tibetan to fall asleep, and when he awoke it was already 
 daylight. Going to Philip's room he found the door still 
 open and the bed unoccupied. Mantso began at length to 
 be alarmed. If nothing had gone wrong his master would 
 surely have returned by this time, or at any rate have sent 
 a message accounting for his absence. What was to be 
 done? 
 
 The first place at which to make inquiries would be the 
 Khalon's house. But what if Rashwa knew nothing of his 
 niece's meeting with her brother at Philip's lodgings, and 
 Philip himself were anxious to keep the matter secret from 
 him ? It would never do for Mantso to impart the informa- 
 tion. Then what was he to do with Champa ? The dog 
 had survived the night, and, though still very weak, was 
 evidently on the road to recovery. If he took the animal 
 to the chief Khalon's house Rashwa would know that his 
 niece must have been at Philip's lodgings some time the 
 previous evening. After much deliberation Mantso resolved 
 to go round to the chief Khalon's house without the dog 
 and try to learn from Lotzung if she had any news of 
 
 244 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Philip. She could say at the same time what she would like 
 him to do with Champa. 
 
 The faithful Tibetan accordingly set out alone, and on 
 nearing the chief Khalon's residence happened to meet one 
 of his servants just coming from it. 
 
 " What news ? " he asked the man in a casual way, after 
 exchanging the usual greetings. 
 
 " There is a great stir in the Khalon's house this morning," 
 the other replied, conscious of possessing a fine piece of 
 gossip, and not wishing to part with it too readily. 
 
 " What is the cause of the stir ? " asked Mantso. 
 
 " Well, you see, it is a family matter, and a discreet ser- 
 vant should not, perhaps, allow himself to babble of it." 
 
 " If it is something that the Khalon wishes to keep secret, 
 I am the last man to warit to pry into it. Farewell, 
 brother," and Mantso made as if to move away. 
 
 This was not at all the effect 'which the Khalon's servant 
 wished his words to produce, so he laid a detaining hand 
 on Mantso's arm and said — 
 
 " Pray do not go away so hastily, we have hardly ex- 
 changed a dozen words. Besides, I was never told to keep 
 secret the matter to which I referred. In fact, the Khalon 
 might like you to know, in case you could be of service to 
 him with regard to it." 
 
 " If I can be of any use to the Khalon, speak. Is he not 
 my master's friend ? " 
 
 "Well, the truth is — " and here the man looked cautiously 
 round him to make sure there were no eavesdroppers — " the 
 Khalon's niece Lotzung cannot be found, and it seems 
 that she has been out of the house aU night." 
 
 This was indeed a piece of news for Mantso. Lotzung 
 was missing as well as his master, unless the latter were at 
 the Khalon's house. Mantso, not liking to ask the question 
 direct, continued — 
 
 245 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " Has no one come to the Khalon's house with news of 
 her ? " 
 
 " No one. I have just been sent out to make inquiries 
 ever3nvhere. Her dog Champa is also missing, but this may 
 be a means of tracing her. You do not know where she is, 
 I suppose ? " the man concluded. 
 
 Mantso replied quite truthfully that he did not know, 
 ■ and, lest he should be asked some awkward questions about 
 the dog, bade the Khalon's servant farewell and went his 
 way. The disappearance of Lotzung made the matter still 
 more inexplicable. Had his master and the young girl gone 
 off together, or was the fact that they were missing at the 
 same time a mere coincidence ? He had nothing to help 
 him towards a solution of the question, and could only set 
 to work to look for his master in every quarter of the town. 
 This search he carried on throughout the day, returning to 
 the lodgings every two or three hours to see if his master 
 had come back. 
 
 Night came and the faithful servant returned home, dis- 
 heartened by the failure of his efforts. He found Champa 
 sufficiently recovered to be able to walk as far as the Khalon's 
 house. Accordingly he put him on a lead, so as to avoid 
 the risk of losing him, and made a detour lest the dog should 
 be traced to Philip's lodgings. Having travelled about half 
 the distance, Mantso felt a tug at the lead, and turned to 
 see Champa trying to enter a large house, which proved to 
 be the residence of the Senior Amban. The Tibetan could 
 not account for the animal's behaviour tUl he remembered 
 the first meeting between Lotzung and Tuen Fang, when 
 Champa had growled so fiercely at the Chinaman. It was 
 possible that the dog had scented him, and had his ani- 
 mosity revived against him. In any case he could not be 
 allowed to enter the house, and Mantso pulled him away 
 from the door, a not very difficult matter in the present 
 
 246 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 weakened state of the animal. On Hearing the chief 
 Khalon's house the Tibetan let the dog loose and watched 
 him find his way safely through the open doorway before 
 returning homewards once more. 
 
 Meanwhile Philip was securely immured within the walls 
 of the Potala. The first night he had spent in a comfortable 
 apartment, with a lay monk detailed to wait upon him. The 
 door of the apartment remained unlocked, but outside he 
 saw half a dozen Tibetan soldiers on guard to prevent his 
 escape. In spite of the situation in which he found himself 
 the young man slept soundly, and it was daylight when the 
 attendant called him, and served a light meal. The tea 
 was excellent, and the bread better than he had yet tasted 
 in Lhasa. If the Regent continued to treat him with such 
 consideration Philip would not object to remain his guest 
 for two or three weeks. 
 
 But at eleven o'clock a couple of lamas entered the room 
 and said they had orders to conduct him to the Regent's 
 presence. Philip followed them out of the room, and the 
 soldiers on guard outside fell in behind them. After pass- 
 ing along several winding galleries and ascending two flights 
 of steps, he was taken into an ante-room adjoining the 
 Regent's private quarters. Here he was kept waiting half 
 an hour, and wondered whether business really detained 
 the Regent, or whether the delay was intended to give him 
 a due sense of the Regent's importance. But at length a 
 door at the further end of the ante-room opened, and a 
 lama beckoned Philip to enter. 
 
 The fhamber into which he was ushered was small, but 
 tastefully furnished, though the young man did not have 
 much time to notice such details. His attention was 
 engrossed by the occupants of the room, for on the Regent's 
 right sat Tuen Fang. Philip wondered if the Amban would 
 know him, but there was no appearance of recognition in 
 
 247 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the apathetic glance with which Tuen Fang favoured him 
 as he entered. A solitary secretary, seated in front of Tuen 
 Fang, was the only other person in the room, for the lama 
 who had introduced him had withdrawn. The Regent 
 regarded him sternly with his keen black eyes and then 
 began — 
 
 " You are an Eastern Mongol, and your name is Khang- 
 sar." 
 
 Philip bowed. Tsering spoke as if it were an established 
 fact, and the young man was not anxious to deny it. 
 
 " I found you last night with the Dalai Lama and his 
 sister in a small lodging in a remote quarter of the town. 
 Tell me how you came to be in that house ? " 
 
 " I went there when I reached Lhasa some three months 
 ago, being recommended to it because it was quiet and 
 cheap." 
 
 " On what errand did you come to Lhasa ? " 
 
 " Being a merchant I came to see if I could do any trade 
 with the capital of your country." 
 
 The Regent's expression underwent no change at this 
 statement, but he looked at Philip in silence with his pierc- 
 ing eyes. The young man became angry under this keen 
 scrutiny. Had Tsering any authentic information about 
 his antecedents, or was he merely asking haphazard ques- 
 tions ? 
 
 " Was the room in which I found you one of those which 
 you rented from the landlord ? " 
 
 " No, my two rooms were on the floor above." 
 
 " How was it you came to be in that room ? " 
 
 Philip saw that the examination was going to be a search- 
 ing one, and that he would have to be careful. 
 
 " I went down to pay my respects to the Dalai Lama." 
 
 " Then you knew that he was there. Was it for the 
 first time ? " 
 
 248 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " No, it was not." 
 
 " You had seen him there before ? " 
 
 Philip assented. 
 
 " Perhaps you arranged the meetings between the Dalai 
 Lama and his sister ? " 
 
 " No, Lotzung arranged them," answered Philip, know- 
 ing that Tsering could not punish the chief Khalon's niece 
 for such an act. 
 
 On hearing Lotzung's name mentioned Tuen Fang was 
 roused from his lethargy, and displayed more interest in 
 the examination. 
 
 " What went on at these meetings ? " continued Tsering. 
 
 " Merely general conversation." 
 
 " They were not arranged to obtain religious advice or 
 help from the Dalai Lama ? " 
 
 " As I did not arrange them I cannot tell their purpose." 
 
 " And nothing occurred beyond general conversation ? " 
 
 " We used to have something to eat and drink," replied 
 Philip, thinking it best to be quite straightforward. 
 
 " You and Lotzung, I presume you mean, for, of course, 
 the Dalai Lama did not partake of food." 
 
 " He needed it most," rejoined PhUip. " You, being in 
 his presence every day, did not perhaps notice any change, 
 but we, who only saw him occasionally, came to the con- 
 clusion that he was starving." 
 
 Tsering, who had hitherto been so impassive, now lost 
 his coolness and flushed at the remark. 
 
 " It is plain that you have forgotten, if indeed you ever 
 knew, the precepts of Buddha, enjoining fasting at certain 
 seasons of the year, of which the present season is one. 
 The Dalai Lama must set an example to his followers in 
 this respect. Who prepared the meals ? " 
 
 " My servant," answered Philip. 
 
 Tsering turned to Tuen Fang and said — 
 
 249 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " Has not the man convicted himself ? " 
 
 " Certainly, certainly ! " replied the Amban, whose at- 
 tention had again been wandering. " Let him be severely 
 punished." 
 
 The Regent bent a stern look on Philip and said — 
 
 " You hear what the Amban says, though, as I promised 
 the Dalai Lama, I will not punish you for your share in this 
 affair. But there are other charges against you." 
 
 Tsering rang a small hand-bell on his table, and from a 
 side door entered a man whom Philip recognized at once 
 as Jasi. The chief Khalon had said that he knew how to 
 deal with the Ladaki, and that he would give no further 
 trouble. Had Rashwa promised more than he was able 
 to perform ? Philip saw that his situation was a serious 
 one, but he resolved to show an unflinching front to his 
 accuser. 
 
 " Look at this man," the Regent said to Jasi. " Do you 
 recognize him ? " 
 
 " I know him perfectly," replied Jasi. " When acting as 
 a spy for the lamas of Eastern- Tibet I engaged myself to 
 him as mule driver." 
 
 " Where was that ? " 
 
 "At Ta-chien-lu. I have recently heard, though I did 
 not know it at the time, that he was the same man who in- 
 terfered when His Excellency the Senior Amban was having 
 a man flogged in the streets of Ta-chien-lu." 
 
 At these words Tuen Fang sat bolt upright and stared at 
 Philip. 
 
 " But that man had not the dark complexion of the 
 prisoner here." 
 
 " Complexions are not always real," said Jasi. 
 
 " Tell us what you know about him," continued Tsering. 
 
 " As soon as we reached Namcho I informed the lamas 
 that the man with whom I had taken service was a peUng. 
 
 250 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 They examined him and ordered him to return to Ta- 
 chien-lu." 
 
 " He did not obey the order ? " 
 
 " No, he turned off from the main road and stayed a 
 couple of days with Phala, the Deba of the district." 
 
 " They were all well mated," observed the Amban, with 
 a smile which only served to show his fangs. 
 
 " After leaving the Deba's castle he was married at the 
 next village to the Deba's daughter Lotzung." 
 
 " What do you say ? " cried Tuen Fang, almost jumping 
 out of his seat. 
 
 " Although he married her he did not treat her as his 
 wife, but merely as his servant," answered the Ladaki. 
 
 " That alone is sufficient reason for annulling the mar- 
 riage," said the Regent. " Continue your story, Jasi." 
 
 " When I became guide, owing to an accident to the man 
 who had been acting as such, I led them towards the monas- 
 tery of Garthok, and then went on to warn the lamas. 
 Unfortunately the peling managed to get past us, and we 
 lost all trace of him through following a false trail." 
 
 " And so he got to Lhasa ? " 
 
 " Shortly after my arrival here I caught sight of him in 
 the streets and traced him to his lodgings. I then informed 
 the Khalons about him, but the chief Khalon took his part, 
 and I was warned to leave Lhasa. Instead of doing so I 
 took service with His Excellency the Chinese Amban, and 
 watched the movements of Lotzrmg and the peling till I 
 discovered their meeting with the Dalai Lama last night." 
 
 " Have you heard enough to convince you of the 
 prisoner's guilt," said Tsering, " or would you like to 
 ask any questions ? " 
 
 " I have no questions to ask," replied Tuen Fang. " It 
 is only a matter of passing sentence." 
 
 The Regent then turned to Philip and said — 
 
 251 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " You have listened to the evidence of this man. Have 
 you anything to say in self-defence ? " 
 
 " Only that by his own words he proved himself a traitor 
 to his master, and therefore no credence can be placed upon 
 his oath." 
 
 " He has been faithful to his real masters, the lamas, and 
 that is what was required of him. It is clear that you per- 
 sisted in your journey against the orders of the lamas, and 
 that, though a pehng, you have penetrated to our sacred 
 city of Lhasa. In Ta-chien-lu you defied the Chinese repre- 
 sentative, and here in my person you defy the temporal 
 ruler of the country. You have richly deserved the sen- 
 tence which I am now compelled to pass upon you, namely, 
 that you suffer the extreme penalty of our law." Here the 
 Regent rang his bell and said to the lama who appeared in 
 answer to it — " Remove the prisoner." 
 
 " And let his sentence be speedily carried out ! " said 
 Tuen Fang, with a malicious laugh, " so that he may learn 
 it is not wise to flout a mandarin of China." 
 
 252 
 
CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 AS Tuen Fang rode home in his palanquin from the 
 Potala his thoughts were busy with the scene at 
 which he had lately assisted. He was glad to find that the 
 man who had interfered with the execution of his orders in 
 Ta-chien-lu had been found guilty of acting contrary to the 
 laws of Tibet. The Chinese Amban never forgave an in- 
 jury, and although he would not have taken the trouble to 
 search for Phihp merely to be revenged upon him, his resent- 
 ment against him was revived in all its former force now 
 that the peling had crossed his path once more. Tuen Fang 
 could at last cry quits, with the certainty that his victim 
 would not survive to cause him annoyance a second time. 
 
 The Chinese Amban possessed another source of satis- 
 faction. If Jasi's story were true — and there was no reason 
 to doubt it — in getting rid of the peling he was also getting 
 rid of Lotzung's husband. As matters now stood, it did 
 not much matter whether Lotzung had a husband or not, 
 for none of her friends or relations knew that she was con- 
 cealed in his house. The only witnesses of the abduction 
 were half a dozen Chinese soldiers, and they knew better 
 than to speak about it. A Chinese mandarin would think 
 no more of cutting off a Chinaman's head for such a foolish 
 act than an Englishman would think of giving his servant 
 a month's notice. Still, if it should by chance be discovered 
 that the Khalon's niece was in his house, he felt that it would 
 be a less serious matter for him if she had no husband living. 
 
 Jasi's narrative also recalled to the Amban's memory the 
 humiliation he had suffered at Phala's hands. Well, it 
 might not be long before he had his revenge on the Deb^ as 
 
 353 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 well. Apart from the fact that he had his daughter in his 
 power — a matter which might not touch the Deba very 
 deeply — they had Jasi's evidence that he aided and abetted 
 the peling in eluding the lamas and entering inner Tibet. 
 This was an act of treason against the Dalai Lama on the 
 part of his subordinate at Namcho. If Phala ever got 
 into the hands of the authorities at Lhasa they would be 
 justified in putting him to death for it. 
 
 Full of these satisfactory reflections, Tuen Fang alighted 
 at the entrance to his residence and made his way to some 
 apartments which looked on to a central courtyard. Taking 
 a key out of his pocket he opened the door of an ante-room, 
 in which sat a Tibetan waiting-woman. 
 
 " Has the young girl eaten any breakfast ? " he asked. 
 
 " She has partaken of a couple of dishes," replied the 
 woman. 
 
 It was a good sign, reflected Tuen Fang, and showed that 
 the Khalon's niece was not inclined to sulk or mope in her 
 captivity. He passed through into the inner room with 
 quite a sprightly air. ' Lotzung was seated on some cushions 
 in a corner doing needlework. 
 
 " How is my dove this morning ? " asked Tuen Fang, 
 using the Chinese equivalent for Lotzung's name, and walk- 
 ing towards her with a mincing gait, reminiscent of the 
 gallantry of his early days. Lotzung looked up at him, 
 and could not restrain a smile of amusement. The healthy, 
 joyous disposition of her Tibetan nature was proof against 
 continued depression, and Tuen Fang certainly cut a most 
 comical figure. 
 
 " I am glad to see you in such good spirits," the Amban 
 continued, somewhat piqued by this reception. " It is a 
 much better frame of mind than that in which I left you 
 last night. But you have no doubt learnt by this time 
 that you will not bring any one to your aid by screaming. 
 
 254 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 You are in the centre of my house, the walls are thick, and 
 your voice wiU not reach the outside world." 
 
 " When are you going to let me return to my uncle's 
 house ? " she asked, looking up at him fearlessly with her 
 clear, dark eyes. Confinement had as yet wrought no ill 
 effect on her appearance. Her complexion had all the 
 freshness and her hair the gloss of perfect health. 
 
 " Do you wish to fly away already, my little bird ? " re- 
 joined the Amban in wheedling tones. " You shall have 
 whatever you want in my house — the finest of silks and 
 the most costly jewellery. Why cannot my dove settle 
 here and make her nest ? " 
 
 " How long do you intend to detain me ? " continued 
 Lotzung, ignoring the inducements to stay which he was 
 offering her. 
 
 " The matter does not rest with me," replied Tuen Fang. 
 "The fact is, you are a state prisoner, and I am made 
 responsible for your safe custody." 
 
 " What wrong have I done that I should be made a 
 prisoner ? " asked Lotzung. 
 
 " It is no, work of mine, I assure youi I see no harm in 
 your wishing to meet your brother, though a common 
 lodging-house is not a fit place for the Dalai Lama ; and 
 the Regent, being responsible for him, was naturally very 
 angry about it." 
 
 " Is the Regent imprisoning me for having arranged 
 these meetings with my brother ? " 
 
 " If it were only that I should have pleaded for you with 
 him and obtained your release. But there is another point 
 which makes the case more serious. A third person was 
 found in your company last night." 
 
 " Khangsar, the Eastern Mongol ? Was there any harm 
 in his being in our company ? " 
 
 " No ; but in the examination of the man, which the 
 Regent has just conducted, some very compromising evi- 
 
 255 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 dence was given against him. It appears that he was 
 ordered by the lamas of Namcho to return to Ta-chien-lu, 
 but that he disobeyed the order." 
 
 " My father is Deba of the Namcho district," replied 
 Lotzung proudly, " and he permitted Khangsar to proceed." 
 
 " If he did so he defied those in authority over him," 
 answered Tuen Fang, angered by the recollection of his 
 treatment at the Deba's hands. Then, remembering that 
 it would not suit his purpose to give Lotzung reason for 
 resentment, he continued : " But that is not aU the story. 
 Khangsar committed an unpardonable offence in entering 
 Lhasa, for he is not an Eastern Mongol at all." 
 
 " Not an Eastern Mongol ? " repeated Lotzung, her eyes 
 wide open with astonishment. " What is he then ? " 
 
 " He is a peling." 
 
 The information evidently took Lotzung by surprise, for 
 there was a pause before she answered— 
 
 " Well, I am glad he is not an Eastern Mongol. I am a 
 Tibetan, and I hke the Mongols as little as — I hke the 
 Chinese." 
 
 Tuen Fang coloured beneath his yellow skin. He had 
 always regarded the Chinese as the only civilized nation, 
 and yet in the estimation of this Tibetan girl they were 
 coupled with one of the most barbarous. 
 
 " You seem interested in this peling," the Amban re- 
 marked between his teeth. " Perhaps you are in love with 
 him ? " 
 
 " And if I am ? " retorted Lotzung with flashing eyes. 
 " Is it wrong to love one's husband ? " 
 
 " Even if he is your husband," answered Tuen Fang with 
 a sneer, " he has never treated you as anything more than 
 his servant." 
 
 " And I would rather be his servant than any one else's 
 wife ! Yes, rather than even your Emperor's wife ! " 
 
 Tuen Fan^; turned almost livid with rage. 
 
 2j6 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " You may have been his servant, but you will never be 
 his wife. He was condemned to death this morning." 
 
 Lotzung sprang to her feet, and confronting the Amban 
 cried : " It is a lie ! You are deceiving me. Confess you 
 are deceiving me ! " 
 
 In her agitation she advanced towards him, and he, 
 cowed by the light in her eyes, retreated in the direction 
 of the door by which he entered. 
 
 " Pray calm yourself. I did not sentence him. It was 
 the Regent." 
 
 Lotzung realized that loss of self-control would not im- 
 prove her cause, and, returning to her cushions again, 
 resumed her needlework. 
 
 " If you speak the truth," she said in low but clear tones, 
 as she bent over her work, " and if the peling is really put 
 to death, the Regent will not hve many days' after it ; nor 
 will his friends survive the Regent's fall." 
 
 There was something terrifying in the cold assurance 
 with which these words were spoken. Tuen Fang felt as if 
 sentence of death were being passed upon him, and a cold 
 sweat broke out upon his brow. 
 
 " You are evidently a little beside yourself," he answered 
 in quavering tones, and with his hand on the latch of the 
 door. " I will leave you for the present, and hope to find 
 you more reasonable when I see you next"; with which 
 words the Amban slipped out of the door, closing it hastily 
 after him. 
 
 Tuen Fang's thoughts were far from agreeable as he sat 
 alone in his room after this interview. The Khalon's niece 
 evidently had a will of her own. So far from being in his 
 power, it really seemed as if he were in hers. She did not 
 betray the slightest alarm with regard to her position, and 
 in their recent conversation the one who had been lacking 
 in courage was himself. It was certainly unpleasant to hear 
 the tones of conviction in which she said that Khangsar's 
 
 R 257 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 death would be avenged, not only on the Regent, but on the 
 Regent's friends. She had, of course, no ground for such a 
 statement, which was only prompted by her desire to make 
 the Regent afraid of allowing the execution to take place. 
 
 With regard to the detention of Lotzung in his house, 
 the Amban came to the conclusion that he would best avoid 
 suspicion by conforming to his daily habits, as if nothing 
 unusual had occurred. He had lately been accustomed to 
 take a walk at noon, and he now set forth with his retinue 
 for this daily exercise. On reaching the main street, he 
 found it in a state of commotion. Tibetan soliders were 
 running in and out of the houses and making a great stir 
 amongst their occupants. Tuen Fang spoke to one of the 
 latter, who happened to be the owner of a store at which 
 he dealt, and said — 
 
 " What is all this to-do about ? " 
 I- The man prostrated himself and answered — 
 I" The chief Khalon has lost his niece, and is having a 
 search made for her in every house in the town." 
 
 Tuen Fang felt uncomfortable. Although the Khalon 
 would not dare to interfere with the Amban's residence, 
 yet by a process of exhaustion the search might result in 
 attaching suspicion to it. At this moment Rashwa himself 
 came out from a house. The Amban decided to accost him. 
 j" They tell me that you have lost your niece," he said, 
 f Rashwa, who felt Lotzung's disappearance keenly, was 
 in no humour for conversing with the Chinese Amban, and 
 answered curtly — 
 
 " Yes, I have lost her, and I mean to find her ! " 
 
 " How unfortunate ! " exclaimed Tuen Fang, alarmed by 
 the expression of set determination in the Khalon's face. 
 " I am very sorry to hear it. Has she ever disappeared in 
 this way from your house before ? " 
 
 " Never," replied Rashwa. 
 
 " Nor from her father's house ? " 
 
 258 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 The Khalon now remembered that she had left her father's 
 house without announcing her intention, and he was irri- 
 tated with Tuen Fang for reminding him of it. 
 
 " I have nothing to do with her conduct in her father's 
 house," he rejoined. " I am only concerned with my pre- 
 sent duty in connection with her. If I find that any one 
 has carried her off by force he will regret the deed. I bid 
 Your Excellency good day" ; and with a ceremonious bow 
 Rashwa resumed his search. 
 
 But Tuen Fang's suggestion kept recurring to the 
 Khalon's mind as he performed his task. Lotzung had run 
 away from .her father's house without giving any hint of 
 her design. Was she repeating her former exploit ? 
 Champa had not been found. If carried off by force, her 
 captors would not have hampered themselves with her dog 
 as well ; whereas if she had gone of her own free will the 
 animal would naturally have accompanied her. Rashwa 
 had become attached to Lotzung, and did not like to think 
 she had repaid his kindness by such conduct. 
 
 This possibility was present in the Khalon's mind all day, 
 and he could not dismiss it as he reflected on the matter 
 at home that evening. It was now that Champa returned. 
 A servant, greatly excited, brought him into the room where 
 his master sat. Rashwa saw at once that the animal had 
 been ill-treated in some way, for his eyes were lustreless and 
 his movements lacked his usual animation. But the dog's 
 return made it seem more probable that Lotzung had been 
 forcibly abducted. Rashwa longed to consult his friend 
 Khangsar about the matter, for he had a high opinion of 
 his judgment. But although he had sent round several 
 times during the day to his lodgings, the Eastern Mongol 
 had been out on each occasion. 
 
 Meanwhile Philip, in his solitary confinement at the 
 Potala, was thinking of the friendly Khalon. Would he 
 
 2S9 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 get to know of his imprisonment and impending fate, and 
 if so, would he make an effort to save him ? The young 
 Enghshman saw that it was very unhkely that either 
 Rashwa or his faithful servant Mantso would ever learn 
 what had become of him. MantSo was out of the house at 
 the time of his arrest, and would consequently know nothing 
 of it. Lotzung could not explain matters to her uncle 
 without disclosing the fact that she had met her brother at 
 Philip's lodgings, a confession which would anger Rashwa, 
 seeing that he did not allow her even to talk of the Dalai 
 Lama. But supposing Lotzung should brave the Khalon's 
 anger and tell him everything, matters would be no better. 
 Rashwa could not charge the Regent with causing Phihp's 
 disappearance except by showing knowledge of the meetings 
 held in Philip's rooms. This would implicate him in the 
 affair, and give his enemies a chance of overthrowing him. 
 
 Thus the prospect before the young Englishman seemed 
 almost hopeless. On leaving the Regent's presence he had 
 been conducted to a smaller apartment than the one he had 
 occupied before. It was scantily furnished, ill-lighted, and 
 very cold. Since entering it he had seen no one, nor had he 
 been given anything to eat or drink since his meal in the 
 early morning. What did this mean ? Had his gaolers 
 forgotten him, or was it usual to half starve prisoners con- 
 demned to death ? From the day he entered Tibet he 
 knew he would have to face the risk of execution, and now 
 that judgment had been pronounced against him he was 
 not taken by surprise. It was the uncertainty of the nature 
 of his fate which caused his mind uneasiness. 
 
 Philip was roused from these gloomy thoughts by the 
 turning of the key and the entrance of a lama gaoler whom 
 he had not seen before. The man was stout and jovial- 
 looking, and Philip could not help liking his appearance in 
 spite of the office which he held. 
 
 260 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " How axe you getting on ? " inquired the lama plea- 
 santly, peering into Philip's face with the light of the butter 
 lamp he held. 
 
 " As well as can be expecj;ed when there is no one to talk 
 to. You, however, have^ removed that inconvenience by 
 your presence, and will not, I am sure, object to answer a 
 few questions. In the first place, what is the date fixed for 
 the execution ? " 
 
 "There is no particular date,' ' replied the priest obligingly. 
 
 " Then I may be taken out at any time and executed ? " 
 
 " There will be no regular execution. Although you are 
 a peling, you probably know that to take life is against the 
 ordinances of our religion." 
 
 " But I am condemned to death. How then is the sen- 
 tence to be carried out ? " 
 
 " Prisoners condemned to death are left without food 
 and water till they die ! " 
 
 Philip experienced a feeling of revulsion against such a 
 death, and remained silent. The jovial lama seemed 
 touched, and went on — 
 
 " Of course, it is very seldom that such prisoners really 
 die of starvation." 
 
 " Do you take pity and put them out of their misery ? " 
 
 " Buddha forbid ! I have never yet been guilty of taking 
 a man's life, but I.do not withhold from those who desire it 
 the means of putting an end to their sufferings." 
 
 " You lend them a pistol or a dagger perhaps ? " 
 
 " No ; but I have sometimes supplied them with poison." 
 
 Philip had always held that self-destruction was a 
 cowardly act, yet would it not be excusable when one was 
 being deliberately starved to death ? 
 
 " Within what time must I expire ? " 
 
 " There is no fixed period, but the Regent will expect to 
 hear of your death within a week or ten days at the utmost." 
 
 261 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Philip pondered on the lama's answer, and then replied — 
 
 " I suppose you do not mind what kind of poison I take, 
 as long as it has the desired effect within that period ? " 
 
 " You are free to make your own choice of poisons." 
 
 " I have a chest full of drugs in my lodgings, and I know 
 some one who is sufficiently acquainted with its contents to 
 mix the poison I require. It would have to be taken in 
 daily doses for nine days, and on the tenth I should expire 
 without experiencing any suffering at all." 
 
 " There are many men in Lhasa," said the monk, " who 
 would like to have that poison for use upon their enemies." 
 
 Philip wondered at this naive admission concerning the 
 morals of his fellow-countr5Tnen, but, making no comment 
 on it, continued — 
 
 " Will you allow me to send a letter to my friend con- 
 taining instructions how to prepare the poison ? " 
 
 " Your letter shall be sent." 
 
 " I will tell him to mix a dose in a ball of tsamba every 
 morning, and I will take it after my first meal. Then for 
 the rest of the day I shall be able to eat what I like 
 without interfering with the effects of the poison. I have 
 a good sum of money in my pocket, and if I have only ten 
 days to live why should they not be merry ones ? You 
 will join me, lama, and we will have the best of wine and 
 food." 
 
 The lama's jovial face beamed with an expansive smile. 
 His figure, which was inclined to corpulency, showed that 
 he enjoyed good fare. 
 
 " It shaU be as you say," he answered. " I like to 
 brighten the last days of the prisoners entrusted to my care. 
 Write your letter to your friend and I will have it de- 
 livered, taking care that the ball of tsamba shall reach you 
 safely every morning." 
 
 Having gained permission to write this letter, the ques- 
 
 262 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 tion next arose to whom should he address it ? Philip's 
 thoughts turned first of all to Rashwa. The chief Khalon, 
 as leader of the party in opposition to the Regent, would 
 like to know on what slender pretext he had been con- 
 demned to death. The young man was also anxious to 
 have news of Lotzung, and to learn whether she had been 
 punished in any way for arranging the meetings with her 
 brother. Put he remembered that Rashwa had never been 
 informed of these meetings, and that even now Lotznug 
 might have said nothing to her uncle about them. If he 
 disclosed the matter to the chief Khalon he would be very 
 angry with his niece for making appointments with her 
 brother without his knowledge. 
 
 But there was another reason why Philip should not 
 address his letter to Rashwa. Supposing his gaoler played 
 him false, or the letter went astray, the Regent would pos- 
 sess evidence against the^ Khalon sufficient to bring about 
 his downfall. The young man saw that it would be best 
 to give up the idea of communicating directly with the chief 
 Khalon. To whom, then, should he write ? There was, of 
 course, Mantso, but Mantso could not read, and would have 
 to get a stranger to explain the contents of the letter for 
 him, a dangerous resource. 
 
 Of Philip's few acquaintances in Lhasa there remained 
 only Purdung. Purdung had always been afraid that his 
 intimacy with the Eastern Mongol might bring down upon 
 him the displeasure of the Lhasa authorities. Still, the 
 letter could be written in such a way that, while it did not 
 commit the Tibetan merchant, it would leave a way open 
 for future correspondence. After much thought Philip 
 took the pen and paper with which the lama had provided 
 him and wrote as follows — 
 
 " A lama residing in the Potala where I am now im- 
 prisoned has promised to have this letter delivered to you. 
 
 263 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 For reasons which it is not necessary to explain I have been 
 arrested and condemned to death. The Regent, in his 
 merciful compassion, has granted me permission to meet 
 my death by poison instead of the slow and painful process 
 of starvation. I write to ask you if you wiU procure the 
 poison for me. In my rooms, to which my servant Mantso 
 will give you access, you will find a medicine chest. Open 
 it with the key I send you. Take a wooden bowl and pour 
 into it ten drops from the third bottle — counting from the 
 left — in the back row, and twenty drops from the fifth 
 bottle in the middle row. Add tsamba and water, and 
 make into a ball of paste about as large as a fair-sized 
 apple. Send this to me at six o'clock every morning for 
 nine days, packed in the little china jar with a cover which 
 you will find at the bottom of the medicine chest. The jar 
 must be carefully cleaned every day. By obliging me in 
 this matter you wiU confer a last act of kindness on your 
 former acquaintance — Khangsar." 
 
 PhiHp, feeling convinced that this letter could not com- 
 promise Purdung, gave it to the lama to read, and he 
 promised to send it that very night. When his gaoler had 
 withdrawn the young man threw himself with a feeling of 
 relief on the rugs which did duty for a bed. He had re- 
 solved to make a fight for existence. The supposed poison 
 which he had asked Purdung to make was perfectly harm- 
 less, but its daily arrival and the returning of the china pot 
 might be made the means of communicating with the out- 
 cide world, if the Tibetan merchant had courage enough for 
 the undertaking. His gaoler seemed inclined to be friendly, 
 and over the wine and good fare, for which he meant to pay, 
 he could perhaps succeed in gaining his confidence. At any 
 rate, the young man had taken the best course he could 
 think of imder the circumstances, and now composed him- 
 self to sleep with an easy mind. 
 
 264 
 
CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 PHILIP woke at an early hour the followmg morning, 
 wondering whether his gaoler, whose name he found 
 to be Kalsang, had caused his letter to be delivered to Pur- 
 dung, and if so whether the merchant would comply with 
 his request. About half-past five Kalsang brought in a 
 light breakfast of excellent tea and cakes, for which the 
 young man insisted on paying at once. They then sat 
 down and partook of the meal together. As it drew near 
 to six o'clock Philip asked Kalsang if he had sent off his 
 letter to Purdung the previous evening. The lama replied 
 that he had done so, his messenger informing him that he 
 had deUvered it into Purdung's hands himself. 
 
 " You remember that I asked him to send me the poison 
 every morning by six o'clock. I wonder if it has yet 
 arrived ? " 
 
 " I had forgotten all about it," replied Kalsang, rising ; 
 " but I will go to the entrance gate to see if Piurdung's 
 messenger is waiting there." 
 
 The friendly lama hurried off at once, and Philip was 
 left to his own reflections once more. He was prepared to 
 find that Purdung had not complied with his request, pre- 
 ferring to have nothing to do with a man who was con- 
 demned to death. The fear of the authorities had always 
 loomed large in the Tibetan merchant's mind. Half-past 
 six, then seven o'clock arrived, but Kalsang did not re- 
 appear. Philip was beginning to give up all hope when 
 his gaoler opened the door. ^ 
 
 " Purdung has not responded to my letter then ? " the 
 
 26s 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 young man said, seeing that Kalsang carried nothing in his 
 hands. 
 
 " On the contrary, his messenger was at the entrance 
 when I got there. I should have been back before, but was 
 detained by some friends who wished to speak to me. Here 
 is the packet " ; and Kalsang produced a small parcel 
 wrapped up in a khata. Philip unrolled the khata and 
 found within it the china pot he had described to Purdung. 
 The pot contained a ball of tsamba. Purdung had done as 
 he had been desired. 
 
 Seeing that Kalsang's eyes were fixed curiously upon 
 him, the young Englishman began to eat the tsamba ball. 
 He had demolished half of it, when his teeth closed upon a 
 substance which resembled paper. Retaining his com- 
 posure, the young man lodged the object in the hollow of 
 his cheek, and then disposed of the rest of the tsamba ball. 
 The lama seemed much interested. 
 
 " Do you feel any the worse for it ? " he asked. 
 
 " Not the slightest," replied Philip, as distinctly as he 
 could with a ball of paper in his cheek. " As I told you, 
 I shall not feel its effects till nine days have passed." 
 
 "It seems to have altered your voice," observed the 
 lama. 
 
 "It is only a slight irritation in my throat, which will 
 soon pass away," the young man rejoined. 
 
 Kalsang looked sceptical, but as some one knocked at the 
 door to say he was wanted, he left the room without making 
 any further remark. Philip lost no time in taking the 
 paper from his mouth and unfolding it. It was of the best 
 Tibetan papyrus, and so little the worse for having been 
 first in a tsamba ball and then in Philip's mouth that the 
 ink had not even run. The message it conveyed ran as 
 follows : "I send you herewith the tsamba ball, which I 
 hope may be as you desire it." With his usual caution 
 
 266 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Purdung had left the letter unsigned. If discovered by the 
 authorities, it compromised no one. But if undiscovered, 
 it opened up a means of communication between PhUip and 
 the outside world as soon as the young man found a way 
 of replying to it. But Philip had already matiured a plan, 
 and cut out with his knife six circles of paper to fit exactly 
 the bottom of the china pdt in which the ball of tsamba had 
 been sent. On these circles he hurriedly wrote as follows : — 
 
 " Your letter safely received. You may continue to 
 write to me by the same means as you employed this morn- 
 ing without any fear of detection. There is no more risk 
 entailed by my mode of communication. The paper, when 
 smeared with sonje of the butter remaining in the pot, 
 looks much the same colour as the china. The reason I 
 told you to clean the pot carefully was to make sure that 
 the paper would not escape your notice. But to come to 
 my point. The mixture I gave you directions to make is 
 harmless, so that for the next few days I shall be able to 
 make every effort to regain my liberty. Tell Rashwa that 
 I have reason to believe the Regent guilty of compassing 
 the Dalai Lama's death. Action should be taken at once 
 if the chief Khalon wishes to save his nephew. 
 
 " And now with regard to my own affairs. Please tell 
 my servant Mantso what has become of me, and let him 
 carry to your house after dark my two rifles, pistols, ammu- 
 nition, and medicine box. If I die within the next ten days 
 I will present them to you, and Mantso shall have the rest 
 of my property. If, on the other hand, there is a rising 
 against the Regent, and I succeed in making my escape, 
 I win come to you for the weapons to enable me to fight 
 against the tyrant. Let me have your news, and say how 
 Lotzung fares." 
 
 Philip had to write a cramped hand in order to get this 
 letter into the six round pieces of paper which he had cut, 
 
 267 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 but he succeeded in doing so. He then laid them at the 
 bottom of the pot, one on the top of the other, and with a 
 thin layer of butter between each of them. Finally, he rolled 
 the pot up in a khata and put it on one side to be given 
 to Purdung's messenger when he called for it after sunset. 
 
 Kalsang arrived with the evening meal at six o'clock. 
 Philip, who had spent a restless day, asked the lama to pro- 
 vide the best of fare procurable, and Kalsang humoured his 
 request. The meal was well cooked, and the wine which 
 accompanied it very good. Kalscmg, like the majority of 
 his countrymen, was fond of wine, drinking freely of it on 
 the rare occasions when it was placed at his disposal. 
 Philip filled up the lama's cup twice as often as his own, 
 with the result that when at the end of the meal he took 
 charge of the china pot to deliver to Purdung's messenger 
 he could not have noticed the round pieces of paper inside, 
 even supposing he had taken the trouble to open it. 
 
 The following morning Kalsang was late in serving the 
 breakfast, and when he at length made his appearance 
 he seemed to have lost his usual geniality. 
 ■ " Did you see Purdung's messenger last night ? " Philip 
 asked at length. 
 
 " Yes he was there," replied Kalsang, avoiding Philip's 
 eyes. 
 
 " Then he will be here again this morning with my 
 tsamba ball." 
 
 "I will go and see." 
 
 The lama left Philip in an micomfortable frame of mind. 
 Had Kalsang discovered the note concealed in the china 
 pot, and was he postponing the announcement of his dis- 
 covery in order to collect further incriminating evidence ? 
 Yet when he returned with the parcel brought by Purdung's 
 messenger the ball of tsamba which the pot contained did 
 not seem to have been tampered with. 
 
 268 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Not wishing to be caught again with a piece of paper in 
 his mouth, Philip said that he would allow a longer interval 
 after his meal to elapse before taking the tsamba ball, so 
 that the efficacy of the poison should not be impaired. 
 Kalsang made no comment, and shortly afterwards left the 
 room. 
 
 As soon as he was gone Philip took the tsamba ball and 
 broke it open, but found no letter inside it. Had Purdung, 
 when cleaning the china pot according to instructions, 
 thrown away the round pieces of paper without noticing 
 the writing on them, or had Kalsang taken possession of 
 them ? This latter possibility became confirmed in the 
 young man's mind as the day wore on by the lama's con- 
 duct. For not only did Kalsang cause the midday meal to 
 be served by some one else, but he refused his prisoner's 
 invitation to dine with him in the evening. Philip now felt 
 convinced that all had been discovered, and that the lama 
 would not even go through the farce of offering to return 
 the china pot to Purdung. In this respect, however, the 
 young Englishman was mistaken, for when Kalsang, after 
 clearing away the dinner, was about to leave the room he 
 asked for the pot. Philip handed it to him with the secret 
 satisfaction that, to-night, at any rate, it contained no evi- 
 dence against him. The lama would at once discover this, 
 and concluding that Philip's suspicions had been aroused 
 would no doubt throw off the mask and denounce him 
 openly to the Regent. 
 
 The following morning, however, Purdung's tsamba ball 
 was dehvered by Kalsang at the usual hour. Philip, feeling 
 sure that there would be no message in it, began to eat it in 
 the lama's presence. But he had barely demolished a 
 quarter of it when he felt a piece of paper between his 
 teeth. Perhaps Kalsang had inserted a letter as a trap for 
 his prisoner. The young man felt inclined to examine it in 
 
 269 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 his gaoler's presence, but on the remote chance that it 
 might really come from Purdung he retained it in his cheek 
 as before. Whilst doing so he became aware that Kalsang's 
 eyes were fixed upon him. 
 
 " I want to have an explanation with you," the lama said. 
 
 " I am glad to hear it," Philip rephed. 
 
 " You must have noticed a change in my manner to- 
 wards you." 
 
 " I have observed it." 
 
 " The fact is," continued the lama in some embarrass- 
 ment, " I drank more than was good for me the night before 
 last, and I felt too ashamed to enjoy your society the 
 following day." 
 
 The explanation sounded too good to be true. 
 
 " If that is all you wanted to say " 
 
 " It is not all. We lamas are not supposed to drink wine, 
 or, if we do, to take it very sparingly. For months together 
 I touch no wine, and then when it is placed before me I 
 cannot restrain my liking for it. I must not therefore join 
 you at your meals unless you promise not to ask me to take 
 wine." 
 
 Philip swallowed the last mouthful of tsamba ball with 
 a gulp of relief, and regardless of the fact that the piece of 
 paper made a visible protuberance in his cheek, replied — 
 
 " I give my promise, for I much wish to have your com- 
 pany. Is there nothing further that you have to say ? " 
 
 Here Philip became conscious that the lama was looking 
 at his cheek, and he hastily transferred the paper to the 
 other side. 
 
 " Are you suffering from face-ache ? " asked Kalsang. 
 " I fancied that your right cheek seemed swollen." 
 
 " It is nothing," said Philip, keeping his left cheek care- 
 fully out of sight. " If I rest it will soon be all right." 
 
 " I will go and get you a lotion which we use for face- 
 
 270 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 ache," rejoined the lama, and Philip, anxious to get rid of 
 him on any excuse, said that he would be glad to have it. 
 
 When the door had closed behind Kalsang Philip took 
 the paper from his mouth and read as follows : — 
 
 " I have done as you desire. The chief Khalon takes 
 heed of what you say. Lotzung has disappeared." 
 
 The fear of the authorities still made Purdung's com- 
 munitations very brief. The first sentence Philip took to 
 mean that the Tibetan merchant had removed the firearms, 
 ammunition, cind medicine chest to his own house, and 
 had informed Mantso of his master's place of confinement. 
 The second sentence pointed to his having communicated 
 with Rashwa, but the third was not so easily explained. 
 Perhaps Lotzung had been afraid of her uncle's anger if he 
 found out about her secret meetings with her brother, and 
 had gone to stay at the house of some friends in Lhasa 
 till the matter had blown over, or she might have set out 
 with some caravan for her father's house. 
 
 But there was another possible explanation of Lotzung's 
 disappearance. Philip remembered Tuen Fang's presence 
 at .his lodgings on the night of his arrest. What had 
 brought him there ? The doings of the young Dalai Lama 
 chiefly concerned the Regent, and there was no occasion for 
 the Chinese Ambassador to busy himself with them, even 
 supposing the autocratic Tsering had been inclined to let 
 him do so. The only other way to account for his presence 
 was the fact of Lotzimg being there. Philip had witnessed 
 Tuen Fang's first meeting with the young girl and the ad- 
 miration she excited in him. He also knew that the Amban 
 had formally applied to her uncle for her hand, an applica- 
 tion which had been practically refused by Rashwa's re- 
 ferring the matter to her father. It was possible that Tuen 
 Fang, despairing of obtaining her by lawful means, had 
 conspired with Tsering to carry her off by force. The 
 
 271 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 young man resolved to tell Purdung his suspicions, and ask 
 him to communicate them to Rashwa at once. 
 
 Accordingly, as soon as Kalsang had brought the lotion 
 for the face-ache, and had withdrawn again, Philip sat down 
 and wrote the following letter to Purdung : — 
 
 " Your secret communication reached me quite safely in 
 the tsamba baU this morning. I conclude that fear of dis- 
 covery made you keep me waiting a day for a reply to my 
 second letter and caused your note to be so brief. Please 
 write more fully. The lama who acts as my warder is very 
 indulgent, and has no suspicion of the means we use for 
 communication. 
 
 " I gather from your letter that you have taken posses- 
 sion of the articles I mentioned, and have told Mantso 
 where I am. But what do you mean by saying Lotzung 
 has disappeared ? If this is so, the Senior Amban may 
 possibly know something of her present abode. Ask 
 Rashwa to look into this matter, and also let me know if 
 he is doing anything with regard to Tsering and the Dalai 
 Lama." 
 
 That evening Kalsang dined with Philip once more, and 
 the latter, according to his promise, refrained from asking 
 his guest to partake of wine. Nevertheless the lama, al- 
 though he conversed in a friendly way, seemed to have a 
 load on his mind. Perhaps something he had seen or heard 
 had aroused his suspicions after all. Philip, anxious to 
 arrive at the truth, began — 
 
 " You do not yet seem quite yourself, Kalsang. It cannot 
 be the matter of the wine, for I have obeyed your wishes 
 with regard to it. Is there anything else which stands in 
 the way of a complete understanding between us ? " 
 
 " Nothing," answered Kalsang. " The matter which 
 occupied my thoughts was one on which I should speak to 
 no one but a lama of the Potala, like myself. I have con- 
 
 272 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 versed with one or two of them about it, but their answers 
 have not satisfied me." 
 
 " Why not take me into your confidence ? I have only 
 a few days more to hve, and what you tell me will not go 
 beyond the walls of the Potala." 
 
 The lama reflected for a while, and then resumed — 
 
 "The matter concerns the Dalai Lama." 
 
 Philip's curiosity was excited. 
 
 " Anjd;hing which relates to the Dalai Lama you may 
 confide to me without fear. I am his devoted servant." 
 
 " Well then, the truth is, I am anxious about his health. 
 I saw him to-day for the first time for a fortnight, and I 
 noticed a great change." 
 
 This was the subject on whHch Philip much desired in- 
 formation, but as it was the cause of his confinement in the 
 Potala he had not ventured to speak to Kalsang about it. 
 Even now he thought it wiser to make sure of his ground 
 before expressing his views on the subject to Kalsang. 
 Accordingly he said — 
 
 " In what respect is he changed ? " 
 
 " He is so much more pale and thin." 
 
 " It is the season of the fasts." 
 
 " Yes, but even a Dalai Lama must eat and ' drink 
 something if he is to remain with us in his present in- 
 carnation." 
 
 " That is true," admitted Philip. 
 
 " Both the previous Dalai Lamas died at this time of 
 the year," continued Kalsang. " I liked them well, but 
 this one has taken possession of my heart. When I asked 
 him how he was to-day he answered, ' I am well, Kalsang, 
 quite well, though weak. We must all follow the ordi- 
 nances of Buddha, myself especially, without complaining. 
 Come near, Kalsang, and I will bless you before you go.' 
 The sight of the transparent hand he stretched out to lay 
 
 s 273 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 upon my head made the tears come to my eyes, and I 
 left the apartment hurriedly lest my emotion should 
 be seen." 
 
 Kalsang's story decided Philip to tell him all he knew. 
 
 " Have you heard why I was condemned to death ? " 
 he asked. 
 
 " I have heard nothing about the charges made against 
 you. The Regent takes no one into his counsel." 
 
 " It was in connection with this matter of the Dalai 
 Lama's health that my arrest took place. Do you know 
 that he has a sister called Lotzung ? " 
 
 " I did not know it, but I was aware that his father was 
 banished from Lhasa for plotting against the Regent's life." 
 
 " That is the Regent's version of the story ; but we need 
 not discuss this matter now. What I wanted to say was 
 that Lotzung, who is very fond of her brother, and came 
 all the way from Namcho on purpose to see him again, ar- 
 ranged a meeting with him in the house in which I happened 
 to be lodging. He fainted shortly after his arrival, and being 
 called by Lotzung to help her tend him, I found that.it was 
 want of food that made him ill." 
 
 " You must have been right. Though during the fasts 
 a Dalai Lama should abstain from meat and eggs, he ought 
 to eat enough plain food to maintain his strength." 
 
 " The Regent would not allow it. We arranged several 
 meetings, at which the poor boy ate heartily and began to 
 improve in health. But Tsering suspected what was going 
 on, put a stop to the audiences, and kept him confined to 
 his room. He only came to see us once more, when the 
 Regent, who got to know of it, made his appearance and 
 sent him back to the Potala, while he arrested me and con- 
 demned me to death." 
 
 Kalsang seemed much distressed by the story. Tsering 
 had been Abbot of the Monastery of Sera, to which he be- 
 
 274 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 longed, and the lama had always regarded him as a devout 
 and holy man. 
 
 " Do you mean to say that he is deliberately planning 
 the Dalai Lama's death ? " 
 
 " I do. As you know, the two previous Grand Lamas 
 died young, and the Regent is preparing the same fate for 
 this one. Look into the matter yourself, and if you find 
 I am not speaking the truth I shall richly deserve the death 
 to which I am condemned." 
 
 JCalsang sprang to his feet, his eyes aflame with anger. 
 
 " I will sift this matter to the bottom," he exclaimed. 
 " I know the personal attendant of the Dalai Lama, and I 
 will get the truth from him. If it should prove to be as 
 you say I foresee mourning at the Potala, but it will not 
 be for the Dalai Lama." 
 
 275 
 
CHAPTER XXV 
 
 RASHWA sat alone in his private room with a long 
 letter spread out before him. His brain was burning 
 with the thoughts evoked by the communication, for it 
 was from Khangsar, and contained information which 
 seemed barely credible to him. Although it was only the 
 evening following that in which the young Englishman had 
 awakened Kalsang's suspicions with regard to Tsering's de- 
 signs, the friendly lama had already found that they were 
 justified, and from a devoted adherent had become one of 
 the bitterest foes of the Regent. He at once communicated 
 the change to PhUip, and asked him if the poison he had 
 taken was sufficient to prove fatal, as he wished to plan a 
 means of escape, so that they might both go and stir up 
 the enemies of the Regent against him. The young man 
 confessed that so far he had taken no poison, and together 
 they discussed the best course to pursue. The discussion 
 ended in the long letter which Rashwa had just received. 
 So much of its contents were entirely new to him that 
 it was small wonder that the chief Khalon could not at first 
 realize the significance of the information it conveyed. He 
 now heard for the first time of the frequent visits of the 
 Dalai Lama and Lotzung to Khangsar's lodgings, how it 
 had been found that his nephew was being slowly starved 
 to death, and how he improved in health when supplied 
 with sufficient food. Rashwa was told the manner in 
 which the trio had been surprised by the Regent and Tuen 
 Fang, how Khangsar had been taken to the Potala, and 
 how Lotzung had in all probability been abducted by the 
 
 276 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Senior Amban. Most important of all, he now learnt that 
 Kalsang, one of the lamas in the Potala itself, confirmed 
 Khangsar's account of the Dalai Lama, and was prepared 
 not only to help the prisoner to escape, but to come out 
 with him and assist the enemies of the Regent. 
 
 Rashwa could not control the whirl of thoughts excited 
 by the information laid before him. "^Hitherto he had been 
 powerless to act against the Regent. Possessing no proof 
 of his treatment of the Dalai Lama, he could not hopfe to 
 bring about a rising against him. Now, however, a lama 
 of the Potala was prepared to give evidence in the matter, 
 and one who knew the inner hfe of the palace would be an 
 invaluable witness. Then Khangsar himself would be free, 
 and, with the wonderful gun of which the Khalon had heard, 
 would be of the greatest assistance. Finally, Lotzung 
 could only be rescued from Tuen Fang by the overthrow 
 of the man who connived at her abduction. Khangsar, it 
 was true, could produce no proof that the Senior Amban 
 had carried the young girl off, but the circumstantial evi- 
 dence was strong against him. The Eastern Mongol's ser- 
 vant, Mantso, who had brought the letter from his. master, 
 and was waiting outside, might even be able to furnish 
 some proof of the deed, and Rashwa had him brought into 
 the room. 
 
 " You Remember the night on which your master was 
 taken to the Potala ? " the chief Khalon began. 
 
 Mantso made a profound obeisance and said he remem- 
 bered it very wel]. 
 
 " And you witnessed all that happened ? " 
 
 " I witnessed nothing, for I had been sent out to make 
 a purchase, and when I returned they had all three gone." 
 
 " So you did not see what became of Lotzung ? Had you 
 no suspicions with regard to it ? " 
 
 " Not till Kalsang, who gave me that letter to take to 
 
 277 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 you, told me that the Chinese Amban was at the lodgings 
 when my master was taken away. I then remembered 
 something which happened the following day." 
 
 " What was that ? " 
 
 " When I was bringing Champa back to your house I 
 went somewhat out of my way and passed the Senior 
 Amban's house. The dog stopped and sniffed at the door 
 and tried to enter." 
 
 " Why did you not come and tell me this ? " asked 
 Rashwa sternly. 
 
 Mantso made an obeisance which was still more profound 
 than the first. 
 
 " I am my master's servant," he answered. " It is not 
 for me to talk unless he bids me." 
 
 RashWa was pleased with this proof of Mantso's allegi- 
 ance to his master, and telling him to call at dawn the 
 following morning for an answer to the letter he had 
 brought, he dismissed him from his presence. The chief 
 Khalon no longer had any doiibt as to where Lotzung was 
 to be found. Action must be taken at once. A trusted 
 messenger was dispatched to friends on whom he could 
 rely, calling a meeting for midnight at a small house in an 
 out-of-the-way street, where they had been in the habit of 
 foregathering. The interval Rashwa devoted to drawing 
 up a plan of action to submit to his associates. 
 
 Punctually at midnight the chief Khalon reached the 
 house and entered the room reserved for the meeting. His 
 appeal had met with ready response, and he found as- 
 sembled nearly every one to whom a notice had been sent. 
 They were all adherents of his own and enemies of Tsering. 
 Purdung, though summoned, did not make his appearance, 
 but sent a verbal message to Rashwa by one of his servants, 
 regretting that indisposition prevented him from attending 
 the meeting. As a matter of fact, the Tibetan merchant 
 
 27b 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 was in his usual health, and fear of being implicated in a 
 conspiracy alone prevented him from being present. 
 
 Rashwa briefly explained to the gathering the reason for 
 which he had called them together. He had obtained, he 
 said, authentic information from an inmate of the Potala 
 that the Regent was deliberately tr5mig to bring about the 
 Dalai Lama's death. They must act at once or it would 
 be too late, and Tsering, with an infant reincarnation of the 
 Dalai Lama, would enter on a fourth term of absolute power. 
 Now was the time to rise against the tyrant, if they did not 
 wish him to secure himself in his office for another twelve 
 or fifteen years. 
 
 Every one agreed that something must be done, but 
 when it came to deciding on a definite course of action the 
 same unanimity did not prevail. Some said it was a little 
 premature to have recourse to arms. The Dalai Lama 
 might still live for severaj weeks, and the time could be use- 
 fully employed in rousing popular feeling against the 
 Regent. If they took action at once, they would have 
 arrayed against them not only the Regent's troops and the 
 fighting monks of Sera, but the Chinese soldiers of Tuen 
 Fang. Would it not be better to have Tsering put out of 
 the way by poison ? No one, however, volunteered for 
 this delicate task, and all seemed anxious to avoid doing 
 anything which might be found out and for which they 
 would be punished. 
 
 " We have no military leader on our side," said one of 
 them to Rashwa. " Now, if your brother-in-law, the Deba 
 of Namcho, joined us, it would be a different matter. He 
 is skilled in the use of the matchlock, and he has gained ex- 
 perience in the local wars in which he has been engaged." 
 
 " It would take too long to send for Phala," replied the 
 chief Khalon ; " but 1 know an Eastern Mongol who is 
 quite as brave and possesses foreign firearms of deadly force 
 
 279 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 and accuracy. Though lying in the Potala condemned to 
 death by the Regent, a lama has promised to set him free, 
 and we can arrange for a rising simultaneously. His name 
 is Khangsar." 
 
 No one present except Rashwa knew him or had even 
 heard of him, for both Purdung and the chief Khalon had 
 their reasons for not making known their acquaintance 
 with Philip. But Rashwa's statement made a great im- 
 pression. At that time there were not half a dozen maga- 
 zine rifles in the whole of Lhasa, and the ammunition for 
 them had been expended in friendly shooting matches. A 
 man who possessed two European rifles, with corresponding 
 cartridges, was equal in efhciency of fire to a whole' regiment 
 of matchlocks. A sudden access of martial ardour seized 
 the meeting, and the chief Khalon took advantage of it to 
 arrange that the Potala should be attacked in the early 
 hours of the following morning. This would allow at least 
 twenty- four hours to warn the supporters of the chief Khalon 
 to answer his call to arms, and would give Kalsang and 
 PhUip time enough to arrange for their escape. 
 
 When Kalsang received through Mantso next day a verbal 
 message from Rashwa that he and Khangsar were to leave 
 the Potala that night, as the attack was to be made the fol- 
 lowing morning, it came to him with something of a shock. 
 The kind-hearted lama was not a fighting man, and though 
 the treatment of the Dalai Lama had driven him into the 
 ranks of the Regent's enemies, he had not anticipated 
 having to take action against him within so short a space 
 of time. Accordingly he entered Philip's room with a very 
 long face, which made the young man think that some- 
 thing had gone wrong. 
 
 " I see you have bad news, Kalsang," he said. " Has 
 the Regent intercepted any of our correspondence ? " 
 
 " No ; but Rashwa has sent a message saying that we 
 
 280 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 must leave the Potala to-night, as the rising takes place at 
 dawn to-morrow." 
 
 " That is good news indeed," replied PhUip with an ex- 
 pression of relief. 
 
 Kalsang regarded the young man with an air of surprise. 
 '' I do not understand how any one who hears that he has to 
 fight on the following day can regard the news as good." 
 
 " Is it not a good thing that our suspense is at an end 
 and all uncertainty removed ? " 
 
 " Yes ; but if the plot is discovered before we leave the 
 Potala we shall lose our lives, while if we escape we shall 
 still have to risk them fighting the Regent's forces." 
 
 Phihp smiled good-humouredly. 
 
 " I can quite understand that as a teacher of the Bud- 
 dhist reUgion you should recoil from taking life. But there 
 wUl be no occasion for you to fight. Leave it to those 
 whose business or whose pleasure it is to do so." 
 
 This view seemed a reasonable one, and Kalsang, with a 
 lighter heart, discussed the details of their flight from the 
 Potala. It was arranged that Philip should put on a 
 lama's dress similar in all respects to the one which Kalsang 
 wore. As to the hour for their escape, the lama decided 
 that four o'clock in the morning was the most suitable. 
 Although lamas were moving about the Potala at all 
 hours of the night, there were fewer at that time than 
 at any other. This would give them ample time to reach 
 Rashwa's house before the dawn. 
 
 Philip spent a restless day, now confident in the success 
 of the revolt, now utterly despairing of the issue. As for 
 Kalsang, he became more anxious and depressed as time 
 wore on, and Philip began to fear that he might fail him 
 after aU. At dinner the lama was reduced to such a doleful 
 state, that if his prisoner had not broken his promise and 
 persuaded him to take a little wine he might have lacked 
 
 281 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the courage for the venture. As it was, the young man 
 succeeded m keeping the lama's resolution up to the neces- 
 sary pitch by inducing him to spend the night in his apart- 
 ment. 
 
 After what seemed to be an interminable vigil four 
 o'clock arrived, and the two men stole quietly out of the 
 room. Only one solider was on guard, and he lay snoring 
 full length upon the ground, overcome by the liberal 
 draughts of wine with which he had been plied. The lama, 
 now definitely committed to the venture, summoned up all 
 the resolution he could command and led the way. They 
 passed along three or four corridors and down several ter- 
 races connected by ladders or steep stone steps. A few 
 lamas met them, but the light was poor, and Philip attracted 
 no attention. 
 
 In this way they drew near to the entrance to the Potala, 
 and Kalsang was beginning to hope that they would get 
 away unnoticed when a lama overtook them, and recog- 
 nizing Kalsang said — 
 
 " Hail, Kalsang ! Whither are you going at this time of 
 the morning ? " 
 
 " I am going to the temple of J ova," he said, inventing 
 an excuse on the spur of the moment. 
 
 " That is my errand. Let us go together. And is your 
 friend bound thither also ? Make him known to me, for I 
 do not recognize his face." 
 
 " His name is Labran," answered Kalsang, mentioning 
 the first that came into his head and cudgelling his brains 
 for some means of getting rid of the man. 
 
 " He must be a fresh arrival at the Potala." 
 
 " Yes, he has only been here a few days." 
 
 They had now reached the gateway, and passed through 
 without being questioned. Their companion, as well as 
 Kalsang, was well known to the lama who acted as gate- 
 
 282 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 keeper, and he thought there was no need to interrogate 
 any one found in their society. When they were well clear 
 of the Potala Kalsang said to their companion : " And now 
 you are going straight to the temple ? " 
 
 " Are we not all going there ? " rejoined the man. 
 
 " Labran and myself have first to pay a visit to a friend 
 who hves in a distant quarter of the town, so we must part 
 here for the present." 
 
 Their companion seemed half inclined to go with them, 
 but Kalsang bade him farewell in tones which expressed so 
 plainly his desire to be rid of him that, the man had no 
 alternative but to go on by himself. As soon as a sufficient 
 distance separated him from them Kalsang and Philip made 
 off in the direction of the chief Khalon's house. This they 
 reached at half-past four, haying had no further interrup- 
 tion on the way. Mantso was awaiting them at the door, 
 and was overjoyed to find that his master had really suc- 
 ceeded in making his escape. They were shown into the 
 reception-room, where Rashwa soon came to welcome them. 
 The chief Khalon was acquainted with Kalsang, and when 
 the first greetings were over thanked him warmly for the 
 part he had taken. 
 
 " You will not regret having joined us," he said. " We 
 have received much more support than I expected, and in 
 the next room there is a man come to help us, who is wbrth 
 by himself a regiment of soldiers. Follow me, and I will 
 present you to him." 
 
 The chief Khalon led the way into an adjoining compart- 
 ment, where to their astonishment they found the Deba of 
 Namcho. No one could be better calculated to attach the 
 monk to Rashwa's cause. He won Kalsang's allegiance 
 not only because he was the father of the Dalai Lama, but 
 because he had been -personally popular in Lhasa previous 
 to his banishment from the capital. The lama made him a 
 
 283 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 profound obeisance, saying how glad he was to welcome 
 him back to the Holy City. 
 
 " You are very kind, my good Kalsang," said Phala, 
 " and I can only hope that aU my acquaintances will be as 
 pleased to see me. I reached here but an hour ago on 
 private business, only to find much more important public 
 business on hand. And this is my kind friend Khangsar," 
 he continued, turning to Philip. " I did not recognize you 
 at first in lama's robes." 
 
 After the mutual news had been briefly exchanged Phala 
 explained the plan of action he had recommended to the 
 chief Khalon. The supporters of the movement were to 
 collect in the side streets on either side of the main street 
 by half-past five. Exactly at the half-hour a single blast 
 of the horn would be the signal for them to pour into the 
 main street, where the chief Khalon and himself would meet 
 them. He then proposed to lead them direct to the Potala, 
 surround it, and make the Regent prisoner. His followers, 
 if once deprived of their leader, would not be likely to do 
 much fighting on his behalf. 
 
 " But what steps will you take about your daughter, who, 
 as you have no doubt heard, is in all probability a prisoner 
 in the Senior Amban's house ? " asked Philip, anxious to 
 effect the young girl's rescue as soon as possible. 
 
 " We cannot risk the failure of our main enterprise," re- 
 plied Phala, " by detaching a force to attack the Chinese 
 Embassy. It will be time for us to deal with Tuen Fang 
 when we have seized the Regent. There is no fear of his 
 escaping us." 
 
 Philip saw that Phala was right, and that the release of 
 Lotzung must be deferred till the action against Tsering 
 had been brought to a successful issue. The young man 
 then asked about his firearms, and was informed that Pur- 
 dung had brought them round to Rashwa's house the 
 
 284 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 previous evening. Phala also carried the rifle which Philip 
 had given him, so that with the three pistols belonging to 
 the latter they had in all six repeating weapons of modern 
 manufacture. 
 
 But it was now time to leave the house. At the entrance 
 a couple of saddle horses were waiting. 
 
 " Are you and theKhalon going to ride ? " asked Kalsang 
 of the Deba in surprise. 
 
 " Tibetan noblemen do not go into battle on foot," re- 
 plied Phala quietly. 
 
 " But you will make a good mark for the enemy's 
 bullets," protested the lama. 
 
 " And we shall be equally visible to our friends. That is 
 why I told them to saddle my white horse. If you would 
 like to ride too, Khangsar," he continued, turning to Philip, 
 " I can soon provide you with a horse." 
 
 But Philip declined the offer, thinking that as a foreigner 
 it would not be wise to take a too conspicuous part in an 
 internal contest of this character. Accordingly he changed 
 his priest's robes for ordinary attire, and then, shouldering 
 one of his rifles, while Mantso carried the other, followed by 
 two men with the ammunition, he was about to set out when 
 Purdung made his appearance. The young man greeted him 
 warmly, and thanked him for the part he had taken in 
 enabling him to escape from the Potala, as well as for keep- 
 ing his firearms in safe custody. 
 
 " Those are the rifles which protected us against the 
 chukpas," remarked Purdung. " I should like to see them 
 once more in use against our enemies." 
 
 " Do you, then, wish to come with us this morning ? " 
 asked Philip, for Purdung had never shown much desire for 
 fighting. 
 
 " Why not ? " answered the Tibetan merchant. " I shall 
 be safe as long as I am near your guns." 
 
 28s 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Philip was amused by the confidence the merchant dis- 
 played in the efficacy of his weapons, and in return, to Pur- 
 dung's great satisfaction, handed to him the rifle which 
 Mantso was carrying. As they were moving off, Kalsang, 
 who had been a silent spectator of the proceedings, now 
 followed them, saying : " Why should I be left behind ? 
 Am I not an enemy of the Regent, and do I not wish to wit- 
 ness, as much as any one, the defeat of his troops ? " 
 
 Purdung's example was infectious, and Philip's party 
 thus reached the number of four. Shortly after they had 
 taken up their position in a side street as arranged, the 
 single blast of a horn was heard, and Rashwa's adherents 
 began to pour into the main street, which soon became full 
 of armed men. Everything was conducted in silence, and 
 even when Phala on his white horse and Rashwa on a black 
 one rode slowly down the street, the enthusiasm of their 
 followers, on recognizing the Deba of Namcho and the chief 
 Khalon, found expression only in whispered remarks and 
 subdued exclamations of welcome. 
 
 On reaching the top of the street, near to which Philip 
 and his party stood, Phala halted for a moment, pointed 
 with his sword in the direction of the Potala, and moved on 
 again without a word. Philip fell in behind the Deba and 
 his brother-in-law. It did not take long to get clear of the 
 city and reach the mountain on which the Potala is built. 
 Here the force divided into two columns, one turning to the 
 right and the other to the left, and following the walls of 
 the building till they met on the further side. The invest- 
 ment of the palace was thus complete and the retreat of the 
 Regent cut off. It only remained to enter and caU upon 
 him to surrender unconditionally. Phala undertook this 
 task, accompanied by Philip's party and some twenty 
 followers. The chief Khalon remained in command of the 
 armed force outside. 
 
 286 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 KALSANG, familiar with every corner of the Potala, 
 "led Phala and his followers in the direction of the 
 Regent's quarters. They met with no more opposition 
 within the walls than ttiey had encountered outside them. 
 Either the inmates of the Potala secretly Sympathized with 
 Tsering's enemies, or they had seen the armed force which 
 Rashwa had collected and deemed it wise to support the 
 stronger side. The various flights of steps would have been 
 hard to take against determined foes, and two or three 
 desperate men could have held the ladders against scores 
 of assailants. But no one ventured to stop the intruders, 
 nor even uttered a word of protest as they passed. 
 
 Thus it was not long before Phala and his party reached 
 the Regent's quarters. A lay monk who was on guard out- 
 side the door stepped timidly aside as the Deba approached 
 it. On being asked if the Regent was within, he replied 
 cautiously that he had not seen him go out. Phala entered, 
 and passing through a couple of ante-rooms came to the 
 room where Tsering transacted all his business. It was 
 unoccupied, but scrolls and official documents lay scattered 
 on the floor, as if some one had hastily ransacked the 
 drawers and cupboards, taking away only the most impor-, 
 tant papers. The Deba began to fear that Tsering had 
 escaped him after aU. Pushing on into the next apartment, 
 which proved to be the Regent's bedroom, he found a lama 
 in sole possession. 
 
 " Where is the Regent ? " asked Phala curtly. 
 
 " He left here about a quarter of an hour ago," replied 
 
 287 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the lama, " and went towards the Dalai Lama's apart- 
 ments." 
 
 Once more Phala hurried off tUl he gained the portion 
 of the palace occupied by the Dalai Lama. With this he 
 was familiar, for he used to visit his son there in the days 
 that preceded his banishment from Lhasa. He now passed 
 hastily through the outer apartments till he reached the 
 Grand Lama's bedroom. Waving aside the two priests on 
 guard outside the door, he threw it open, but halted on the 
 threshold. For the boy, with pale, drawn face and feeble 
 frame, propped up by cushions, bore no resemblance to the 
 rosy-cheeked lad he had last seen two years previously. 
 The Grand Lama, however, recognized his father, and a wan 
 smile lit up his face. Phala ran forward, and falling on his 
 knees asked for the Dalai Lama's blessing. The boy 
 stretched out a thin, almost transparent hand, placed it 
 on his father's head, and pronounced the well-known for- 
 mula. Then Phala remembered his errand and rose to his 
 feet. 
 
 " I heard that the Regent was here. Whither has he 
 gone ? " 
 
 " He left me only a short time ago," replied the boy. 
 " A message was delivered to him, and he went off hastily, 
 saying that important business required his attention. But 
 what brings you here at this early hour, and why have you 
 returned from Namcho to Lhasa ? " 
 
 " I too have important business," answered Phala. 
 
 "Business which concerns my good friend Khangsar ?" 
 continued the Dalai Lama, turning to Philip, who alone of 
 the Deba's followers had entered the apartment. " I am 
 glad to see that the Regent kept his promise and did not 
 punish you for being found with me that night when we 
 last met." 
 
 " I am alive and well," answered Philip, not wishing to 
 
 288 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 undeceive the boy on the question of the Regent's treat- 
 ment of him. " But you, I see, have been fasting again, to 
 the detriment of your health. And what is this ? " he went 
 on, taking up a small silver cup full of an almost colourless 
 liquid, which stood on a smaU table at the Grand Lama's 
 bedside. 
 
 An involuntary shudder passed through the boy's pale 
 frame as he glanced at the cup. " That is my medicine," 
 he said ; " the Regent gives it me every morning with his 
 own hands. I am not sorry that he was called away to-day 
 before I took it, for it always makes me feel unwell." 
 
 Philip dipped the tip of his little finger into the draught 
 and tasted it. A single drop sufficed. Taking up the cup, 
 he threw its contents out of the open window. Phala 
 understood his action, and the colour mounted to his 
 brow. 
 
 " Let us waste no more time," he said, " our business is 
 pressing. Farewell, my son. It wiU not be long before we 
 return." 
 
 They withdrew the same way as they had come, but be- 
 fore joining the others the Deba laid his hand oij PhUip's 
 shoulder and said : " That cup that stood by the Lama's 
 couch and which you emptied at the window, did it contain 
 poison ? " 
 
 " It did," answered Philip. 
 
 A fierce Ught shone in the Deba's eyes. 
 
 " Come, let us track the fugitive to his hiding-place." 
 
 Kalsang's services were once more required, and under 
 his guidance every apartment in the Potala was searched, 
 but searched in vain. Phala in despair was on the point of 
 going through the palace once more when a messenger 
 brought a letter from Rashwa. The Deba glanced hastily 
 at its contents and said to Philip — 
 
 " Rashwa sends word that the lamas of Sera are marching 
 
 T 289 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 in full force against the Potala. It is evident that Tsering 
 has escaped and called his monks to arms. I am glad of it. 
 I would sooner kill him fighting in the open than hunt him 
 down and slay him when he was at my mercy. Let us join 
 Rashwa without delay." 
 
 The small party followed their leader as he made his way 
 to the western gate. Firing had already commenced when 
 they reached it, and the ramparts were manned with 
 Rashwa's followers. They found that the Khalon himself 
 had taken up a position on the waU which commanded a 
 view of the attacking forces and the surrounding country 
 as far as the Monastery of Sera some three miles distant. 
 An unbroken stream of dark-robed monks extended from 
 the monastery gates to the Potala. As they came within 
 a hundred and fifty to one hundred yards of the building 
 they deployed to right and left of the gate. Then, taking 
 advantage of such cover as a boulder or a solitary hut 
 afforded, they opened fire. 
 
 This fire was almost harmless, as the range of match- 
 locks does not exceed one hundred and twenty yards, and 
 they cannot be aimed with any accuracy beyond sixty or 
 seventy yards. The danger lay in the numbers of the 
 enemy, supposing they had the courage to make an assault. 
 Rashwa commanded barely five hundred followers. The 
 Monastery of Sera could turn out five thousand armed men. 
 They were massing in such numbers that an attack on the 
 gate could be carried by mere weight. It was only a 
 wooden structure and considerably out of repair. Sand- 
 bags would have rendered it sufficiently secure, but on the 
 barren rock on which the Potala was built not a single sack- 
 ful of earth or sand could be collected. The only way in 
 which it could be strengthened was with beams of wood, 
 and Philip volunteered to do what he could with the 
 material at their disposal. 
 
 290 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Meanwhile it became evident that the enemy were going 
 to concentrate their attack on the western gate. The 
 bullets of their matchlocks, indeed, failed to penetrate the 
 wood ; but a gingal, or huge Chinese musket, with a range 
 of three hundred yards, had been mounted on its rest, and 
 its niissiles, piercing the gate, wounded in quick succession 
 three of the men who were helping Philip. The faithful 
 Mantso, however, stuck to the work, cind at length the gate 
 was made as secure as possible with the scanty supply of 
 beams which could be found for the purpose. 
 
 This had only just been done when a six-pound ball 
 crashed through the structure, being followed almost in- 
 stantaneously by the report of a piece of ordnance. PhiUp 
 rushed up on the ramparts and found that a Chinese leather 
 cannon had been moimted at a distance of five hundred 
 yards. A few more such shots would make a breach in the 
 gate through which the enemy could enter. The young 
 man took a steady aim with his rifle, and shot dead one of 
 the lamas who were loading the cannon. The fact that a 
 bullet took effect at such a distance created astonishment 
 amongst the enemy, but they nevertheless continued the 
 loading and fired three more rounds. At the fourth dis- 
 charge the leather cannon burst, killing three of the lamas 
 who were serving it. Another cannon, however, had been 
 mounted, and a third was being brought up. The enemy 
 intended to make certain of success. 
 
 At this juncture a messenger came to say tnat the Sera 
 monks were breaking into the eastern gate. This gate was 
 protected by strong battlements, and on that account a 
 smaller force iad been left to guard it. Phala now realized 
 the mistake that had been made, and gathering round him 
 a body of men started off with Philip to retrieve it. On 
 Hearing the gate, however, the Deba found he was too late. 
 A large battering ram had been employed, a breach had 
 
 39 1 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 been effected, and the enemy were already pouring in. But 
 a resolute stand might still save the situation, and the 
 deadly volley which issued from the matchlocks of Phala's 
 men, assisted by the continuous fire of the two repeating 
 rifles, caused the Sera lamas to waver. 
 
 It was now that a man rode up to the gate, and, dis- 
 mounting, called on the assailants to follow him. Phala 
 recognized the Regent and covered him with his rifle ; but 
 Tsering only carried a sword, and it seemed a cowardly 
 thing to shoot him down. The Deba therefore threw his 
 rifle on the ground, and telling his men to cease firing, 
 advanced with drawn sword to meet the Regent. 
 
 " It is you, Tsering, I see ! " he exclaimed. " If you are 
 as brave as you are unscrupulous tell your men to stand 
 where they are, and let us settle the matter between our- 
 selves." 
 
 " I accept your challenge, Phala," replied the Regent, 
 drawing his sword, " When I have disposed of you it will 
 be time enough for the monks of Sera to clear the Potala 
 of the rabble you have brought with you ! " 
 
 With these words he made a rush at Phala. Though 
 some ten or twelve years older than his adversary, Tsering 
 was stUl a powerful man, and had the advantage in both 
 height and weight. There was little scientific swordsman- 
 ship on either side, and Philip saw that the conflict would 
 not be a long one. The end came sooner even than he ex- 
 pected. A terrific blow which Tsering aimed at Phala's 
 head was parried by the Deba and followed by a thrust 
 which pierced the Regent's heart. 
 
 " So may aU the enemies of my country perish ! " ex- 
 claimed Phala. " Let those who wish to avenge his death 
 advance ! " 
 
 But the followers of the Regent, now that their patron 
 had fallen, had no further relish for the struggle, and went 
 
 292 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 oif to spread the news amongst their fellows. The attack 
 on the western gate soon ceased, and the lamas began to 
 retire to the monastery. Philip's thoughts returned to Lot- 
 zung, and he asked Phala to spare him some men to search 
 the Chinese Embassy for his daughter. 
 
 " Take as many as you wish," replied the Deba, " but you 
 will have no fighting. I know Tuen Fang too well for that. 
 My presence is still required at the Potala, but I do not 
 think you wiU have any difficulty in recovering Lotzung 
 from the Amban's residence." 
 
 The Chinese Embassy had been in a state of great com- 
 motion since the early hours of the morning. The secret of 
 the rising had been so well kept that not even Jasi, Tuen 
 Fang's Spy-in-Chief, knew anything of it. As soon, how- 
 ever, as the movement began the Ladaki heard of it, wit- 
 nessed the gathering, and ran home to tell his master the 
 chief characters who took part in it. He found the Amban 
 in a heavy slumber, induced by having recourse the previous 
 night to his opium pipe. His inability to make progress in 
 his suit for Lotzung's hand had driven him to his usual 
 solace when in trouble. No promises of either money or 
 presents would induce the young girl to become his wife. 
 When he threatened force, she answered that she would 
 resist, and either kill her assailant or die by her own hands. 
 It was evident that she had concealed upon her person some 
 weapon which the Amban did not care to face. To console 
 himself in his rebuff Tuen Fang took to his opium pipe, and 
 the apartment was still heavy with the fumes when Jasi 
 entered it. 
 
 Assisted by the Senior Amban's personal attendant, the 
 Ladaki at length succeeded in bringing his master back to 
 consciousness. In the usual reaction after this stimulant 
 Tuen Fang's nervous force was at its lowest ebb, and his 
 first sensation at being thus roughly roused was one of 
 
 293 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 abject terror. Seeing, however, only Jasi and his personal 
 attendant alarm gave place to anger, and he bade them be 
 gone out of his presence, so that he might enjoy his sleep in 
 peace. 
 
 " But I have important news for Your Excellency," said 
 Jasi. " A revolt, headed by the chief Khalon, Rashwa, has 
 taken place." 
 
 At the word " revolt " the Amban's previous fears re- 
 turned, and he sat bolt upright on his couch. 
 
 "Revolt! Chief Khalon?" he echoed. "Are they 
 coming here ? " 
 
 " No, they are marching on the Potala." 
 
 Tuen Fang gave a sigh of relief and lay back on his 
 cushions again. 
 
 " Has Rashwa a large following ? " he asked. 
 
 " His brother-in-law Phala, the Deba of Namcho, has 
 joined him." 
 
 The Deba's name sent a shiver of fear through the 
 wretched Amban's frame, 
 
 " Who else is there with him ? " 
 
 " Purdung the merchant, and Khangsar, the Eastern 
 Mongol." 
 
 "Khangsar?" repeated Tuen Fang. "I thought he 
 was condemned to death." 
 
 " The lama Kalsang, in whose company I saw him, no 
 doubt helped him to escape." 
 
 " What if Rashwa takes the Potala and kills the Re- 
 gent ? " continued Tuen Fang, his fears returning. " They 
 would then come here and attack my house." 
 
 " They may take the Potala, but they will not take the 
 Regent, for I gave him warning to escape. I also sent word 
 to the Monastery of Sera, so they will be ready to help the 
 Regent." 
 
 " You are a clever fellow, Jasi," said Tuen Fang with an 
 
 294 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 approving smile, " and you shall be well rewarded. Go and 
 call out the Chinese troops to guard the Residency, and 
 then get me the latest news. There will be no more sleep 
 for me this morning. I must get up at once." 
 
 Jasi gave the Amban's order to the officer commanding 
 the guard at the Embassy and then went on to the Potala. 
 Here he found the lamas of Sera already preparing for the 
 attack. From a safe distance he watched their operations. 
 When he saw the leather cannons battering the western 
 gate he came to the conclusion that the monks would soon 
 be victors. This belief became a certainty in his mind 
 when the Regent entered the eastern gate, and without 
 waiting to see any more he hurried back to the Senior 
 Amban. 
 
 He found Tuen Fang consumed with anxiety. It ap- 
 peared that the Chihese barracks were on the further side of 
 the town, and the soldiers were afraid to venture out of 
 them. The Amban had not only appropriated their pay, 
 but had neglected to provide them with firearms, so that 
 they could hardly be called a military force at all. Being 
 driven to support themselves, they were most of them en- 
 gaged in civilian occupations. Consequently no more men 
 were available to protect the Residency than the half-dozen 
 already there, and Tuen Fang was in the depth of despair. 
 
 Jasi's news, however, filled him with more confidence. 
 As the Regent had defeated the revolutionists, both Rashwa 
 and Phala would be executed, if not already killed in battle. 
 The populace of Lhasa would have been taught a lesson, 
 and Tsering and himself would now possess more absolute 
 power than before. Better stiU, he was at liberty to do 
 what he liked with Lotzung. The daughter of a rebel would 
 have no claim to consideration. He debated whether he 
 would make her his wife or his slave, but before doing either 
 it would be necessary to take away from her the weapon 
 
 295 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 which she evidently carried. The Amban thought for a 
 while on the matter and then said to Jasi, who stiU stood 
 before him, " How is Lotzung this morning ? " 
 
 " Her maid says that she is still complaining of being 
 kept here." 
 
 " She will soon change her tone when she hears that her 
 father and uncle have been kiUed, and that there is no one 
 left to take her part. I will go and see her now." 
 
 Jasi made obeisance and turned to leave the room. 
 
 " Stay ! " said the Amban. " I have reason to believe 
 that the girl conceals a weapon about her. It would be as 
 well to take it away. You must wait outside the room 
 while I am with her. I will provoke her to display her 
 weapon, and when I cry, ' Hold, hold,' you must rush in 
 and seize her." 
 
 " I will do as Your Excellency commands," replied Jasi, 
 and withdrew. 
 
 Tuen Fang then summoned his personal attendant and 
 had himself arrayed in a gorgeous costume. Satisfied at 
 length with his appearance, and heavily perfumed, the 
 Amban set out for Lotzung's chamber. 
 
 A man less absorbed in himself than Tuen Fang would 
 have noticed the change that had come over the Khalon's 
 niece during the last few days. The colour had faded from 
 her cheeks, and her bearing lacked the vivacity for which it 
 had always been distinguished. She was sitting at needle- 
 work with her back to the door as the Amban entered, and 
 she neither looked up nor laid aside her work. 
 
 " How is my bird this morning ? " began Tuen Fang. 
 
 Lotzung took no notice of him. 
 
 " Has she yet no kind word nor tender look for me ? " 
 
 The young girl did not reply. 
 
 " I fear that my dove still frets at her confinement. But 
 why should she ? Is it not better to be imprisoned in a 
 
 296 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 house where every care is taken of her than to be thrust out 
 into the streets and left to support herself ? " 
 
 Lotzung could not restrain a gesture of impatience. 
 Tuen Fang observed it and was annoyed. 
 
 " Ah ! you may think it impossible now, but who would 
 dare to befriend you if both your father and uncle had been 
 put to death for conspiracy against the Regent ? " 
 
 " They would fight before they could be put to death," 
 answered Lotzung proudly. 
 
 " If they fought they would soon be overcome. Perhaps 
 you have not heard the sound of firing ? " 
 
 Lotzung had heard it, and wondered what it meant. She 
 refrained, however, from expressing any curiosity, and 
 Tuen Fang continued — 
 
 " This morning at dawn your unele and father led a 
 revolt against the Regent." 
 
 " My father is at N*mcho," rejoined Lotzung, treating 
 his story as a baseless rumour,, though she was far from 
 feeling the confidence which she assumed. The young girl 
 had known for a long time the antipathy which her father 
 and uncle entertained for Tsering, and the tale was not 
 improbable. 
 
 "They took the Potala," continued Tuen Fang, ignor- 
 ing her remark ; " but the monks of Sera retook it from 
 them." 
 
 " What became of my father and uncle then ? " asked 
 Lotzung incredulously. 
 
 " They were both killed." 
 
 The young girl started, but regained her self-possession 
 almost immediately. 
 
 " I do not believe you," she answered in a low, clear 
 voice, continuing her needlework. 
 
 Tuen Fang found the situation decidedly irritating. He 
 had expected to frighten the young girl and make her think 
 
 297 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 that her only hope rested in pleasing him, but he was met 
 by a quiet statement of disbelief in his tale. Was there 
 any one else to whom she looked for assistance ? The 
 Amban suddenly remembered PhUip, and angered by the 
 thought, exclaimed — * 
 
 " Perhaps you fancy that the peling Khangsar will come 
 to your aid, but that is impossible, for he was amongst the 
 first to fall." 
 
 " If that is all you have to say I shall be glad to be 
 alone again." 
 
 " No, it is not all I have to say," rejoined Tuen Fang, 
 greatly incensed, though still retaining his composure. 
 " You have now no friends left in the city. Your father 
 and uncle have died traitors' deaths, and your lover Khang- 
 sar has met the fate which every peling deserves who enters 
 Lhasa. You are entirely in my power, and I can make you 
 my wife or my servant as I wish. But I am not vindictive, 
 and you shall be my wife if " — here he advanced towards 
 her with a mincing gait and a would-be gallant air — " if you 
 will confirm the bargain with a kiss." 
 
 The old voluptuary bent forward with a leering smile as 
 if to claim the kiss, but Lotzung sprang to her feet, and 
 drawing a dagger from her bosom faced him with her back 
 towards the door. 
 
 " Hold, hold ! " cried Tuen Fang loudly, and in a mo- 
 ment both the young girl's wrists were seized from behind 
 by Jasi, who had kept the door ajar so as to answer his 
 master's summons without delay. Tuen Fang's yellow- 
 countenance — for the sight of the dagger had alarmed him 
 — now relaxed into a smile at the successful issue of his 
 strategy. 
 
 " You are caught now, my little spitfire," he said, gloat- 
 ing over his victim. " You may as well throw away the 
 dagger, for it wUl only be taken from you by force. There 
 
 298 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 is no one to come to your help, not even your beloved 
 peling Khangsar." 
 
 Even as he spoke a shadow falling across the doorway 
 attracted the Amban's eyes, and they becanae glazed with 
 a look of abject terror. For there, pistol in hand, stood the 
 peling whose name had but just that moment passed his 
 Ups. 
 
 299 
 
CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 JASI, who had his back to the door, observed the Am- 
 ban's fixed gaze, and turned his head to see what was 
 the cause of it. One look sufficed him. Letting go of 
 Lotzung, he rushed towards a door on the opposite side of 
 the room. 
 
 " After him, Mantso, and bring him back alive or dead," 
 said Philip to his servant. 
 
 But Mantso was forestalled. Lotzung's mastiff Champa, 
 left to his own devices since the early morning, had been on 
 watch at the gates of the Chinese Embassy, within which 
 he knew his mistress was confined. When Philip entered 
 he slipped in with him, and catching sight of Jasi struggling 
 with Lotzung he uttered a vicious growl and dashed after 
 him as he fled. The sound of his scuffling feet could be 
 heard down a long passage and then up a wooden staircase 
 to the first floor. Three piercing shrieks followed, and all 
 was still. Lotzung, not able to understand what had hap- 
 pened, turned and caught sight of Philip. Running up to 
 him for protection, she threw her arms round him and said — 
 
 " Ah, Khangsar ! dear Khangsar ! Is it really you ? 
 The Amban told me you were dead ; instead, you have 
 come to save me from him " ; and her courage breaking down 
 nOw that hope had come at last, she hid her face against 
 his shoulder and sobbed aloud. Philip bent down and 
 touched her forehead with his lips. 
 
 " Hush, Lotzung," he said, " why should you weep now ? 
 The man shall never trouble you again. Rest here while I 
 
 300 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 see to him," and he led her to a seat. Then he turned to 
 Tuen Fang, but .before he could utter a word the cowardly 
 Aniban was grovelling at his feet. 
 
 " Deal with me as you will," he whined, " as long as you 
 do not kiU me ! I have really done no harm. I was only 
 playing with the child. Be merciful, and let me live ! " 
 
 The sight of the wretched craven on his knees before him 
 filled Philip with disgust. The man was too despicable to 
 kiU, and so far there was no proof that he deserved a death 
 sentence. Besides, he was the ambassador of the Chinese 
 Emperor, and his execution would put the chief Khalon's 
 party in the wrong. Accordingly, Philip called in some of 
 his followers and said — 
 
 " Take this man into the next room and keep him there 
 tUl you receive instructions what to do with him." 
 
 They dragged the wretched Tuen Fang, whimpering like 
 a beaten child, out of the room and locked him up in the 
 next apartment. When Philip had put a guard at the door 
 he went in search of Mantso, and met him accompanying 
 four men who carried a body on a stretcher. Champa 
 followed the bier with head erect and swishing tail, giving 
 vent to the anger which was roused within him by emitting 
 low growls of defiance at the corpse. Though the body was 
 covered with a cloth, Philip had no doubt of its identity. 
 
 " It is the Ladaki," he said to Mantso. " How did he 
 meet his death ? " 
 
 " Champa caught him by the leg on the balcony of the 
 first floor, and whilst struggling with the dog he fell over 
 the railing to the ground and broke his neck." 
 
 " He will work no further harm then. Take his body to 
 the public bursdng-place." 
 
 At this moment the Junior Amban made his appearance 
 at the gate of the Residency. He was known to favour 
 Rashwa's party, and was so confident that the revolution- 
 
 301 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 ists bore him no ill will that he had ridden through the city 
 in his palanquin with only one attendant beyond his 
 bearers. Though Philip was acquainted with him, having 
 met him at the chief Khalon's house, he felt some embarrass- 
 ment in being found in possession of Tuen Fang's house, 
 with its master locked up in one of his own rooms. An 
 indignity put upon the Senior Amban might be regarded 
 by the Junior Amban as a slight upon himself. 
 
 " Is Tuen Fang within ? " asked the new-comer. 
 
 " He is within," replied Philip, " but hardly in a con- 
 dition to attend to business at the present time." 
 
 " He must be under the influence of opium again, I con- 
 clude. But I must see him, whatever his condition may 
 be. I have here a dispatch from Pekin, appointing me 
 Senior Amban and ordering me to send Tuen Fang back to 
 China under arrest." 
 
 Philip's relief was very considerable. 
 
 " I congratulate you on your appointment. As for 
 Tuen Fang, he has got no more than he deserves. I found 
 that he had carried off the chief Khalon's niece, and was 
 keeping her a prisoner in this house. So I came to set her 
 free, and at the same time I have put him under arrest 
 pending an inquiry. What is he accused of ? " 
 
 " Maladministration in his previous province. As soon 
 as he left, his proceedings became known at Pekin, and the 
 dispatch which I hold is the result." 
 
 Philip led the Junior Amban to the room in which Tuen 
 Fang was confined, and leaving him to settle his own affairs 
 as he thought best went on to Lotzung. He found that the 
 young girl had recovered her composure and was anxious 
 to learn the news. 
 
 " Is it true that my uncle has revolted against the Regent, 
 and that my father came up from Namcho in time to fight 
 against him ? " 
 
 302 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " Quite true," said Philip. 
 
 " And how have they fared ? " 
 
 " The Regent has been killed, and the Jviiiior Amban has 
 orders to send Tuen Fang back to China under arrest." 
 
 " Then my poor brother will no longer be ill-treated, and 
 I shall have nothing to fear from Tuen Fang ? I have been 
 very unhappy during the last few days, and was driven to 
 despair just before you came and freed me. What can I do 
 to show my gratitude ? " 
 
 " I will teU you what you can do, Lotzung," said Philip, 
 taking her hand. " You can promise to be my wife." 
 
 Lotzung's dark eyes opened wide with astonishment. 
 
 " But I was your wife once, and you made me promise 
 that I should be your wife in name only till we reached 
 Lhasa, and then I should cease to be so even in name." 
 
 " That was before I knew I loved you." 
 
 Lotzung's lips relaxed into a pretty smile. 
 
 " And do you love me now, Khangsar ? " 
 
 " Very dearly, Lotzung." 
 
 " Then I wiU be your wife again," she answered. 
 
 " And what will be your reason this time ? " asked Philip, 
 moved by a spirit of mischief. " Last time it was simply 
 because you wished to go to Lhasa to see your brother." 
 
 " Now it is because I wish to be with you." 
 
 " And why do you wish to be with me ? " 
 
 " Ask Tuen Fang. He knows the reason." 
 
 " But you will not tell me ? " 
 
 " Yes, if you wish me to tell you. It is because I love 
 you ! " 
 
 There was only one answer to this statement, and Philip 
 gave it promptly. Then he remembered something and 
 said — 
 
 " I have a confession to make, Lotzung. I have been 
 deceiving you and every one else with regard to myself." 
 
 303 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 " You mean that you are not an Eastern Mongol." 
 
 " How did you know that ? " the young man asked, much 
 surprised by this apparent act of thought-reading. 
 
 " Tuen Fang told me." 
 
 " Perhaps he also told you what I was ? " 
 
 " He said you were a peling." 
 
 " I am an Englishman. Will you still marry me ? " 
 
 " I do not know what an Englishman is, but I will be 
 your wife if you wUl have me." 
 
 Philip would doubtless have ratified this statement also 
 in the usual way if Mantso had not made his appearance. 
 He had disposed of Jasi's body, and now awaited his 
 master's orders. 
 
 " Get the mandarin's palanquin and take my wife to the 
 chief Khalon's house." 
 
 Mantso grinned all over his good-natured countenance on 
 hearing his master speak of Lotzung for the first time by 
 that title, and went to get the palanquin. Philip having 
 seen the young girl into it, set off for the Potala to hear how 
 matters had progressed. He found the streets full of 
 people, everybody turning out of doors as if to celebrate 
 a public holiday. Trumpets and horns were being blown, 
 and banners hung from every window. On the way he met 
 Purdung, his face black with gunpowder and carrying 
 Philip's rifle with a jaunty air. 
 
 " Ah, my dear friend Khangsar ! " he exclaimed on seeing 
 Philip. " I have lived a day worth living. What a beauti- 
 ful gun this is and how wonderfully it shoots. I have 
 settled accounts with many of those rascally monks of Sera, 
 and now I am content. They have asked for terms, and 
 Rashwa has been proclaimed Regent." 
 
 " And what of Phala ? " 
 
 " He returns to the palace in which he lived before his 
 banishment, and which is always reserved for the father of 
 
 304 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the Dalai Lama. Our good friend Kalsang has been ap- 
 pointed chamberlain at the Potala." 
 
 Now that everything had gone so well for the chief Khalon 
 and his supporters there was no occasion for Philip to pro- 
 ceed any further. In fact, he judged it the wisest course to 
 appear in public as little as possible during the present 
 crisis. According to his own account of himself, he was not 
 a Tibetan, but only an Eastern Mongol. A nation does not 
 Uke foreigners to take part in their internal troubles, and 
 Tibetans are particularly jealous of such interference on the 
 part of Mongols. Besides, Tsering or Tuen Fang might 
 have spread the report that he was a European. Supposing 
 it got abroad that Rashwa had gained his victory through 
 the help of a peling, his cause might be seriously imperilled 
 by the fact. Accordingly the young man decided to return 
 to his lodgings and wait till the city had settled down to 
 its normal state. 
 
 On reaching home the landlord met him in the yard and 
 greeted him with great effusiveness. During the last two 
 or three weeks before Philip's arrest the man had kept care- 
 fully out of his way. No doubt he had his suspicions as to 
 the identity of the boy and girl with whom the Eastern 
 Mongol was on such familiar terms, and realized that there 
 would be trouble if the Regent got to know of their visits 
 to his house. But the Regent had been killed, and the 
 party with which his lodger had been associated was tri- 
 umphant. Consequently there was no attention too great 
 to show his guest. He escorted Philip up to his room on 
 the second floor, prostrating himself at each landing on the, 
 way. If Mantso had not made his appearance, the land- 
 lord, in his anxiety to ingratiate himself, might have bored 
 the young Englishman with superfluous attentions for 
 another hour. 
 
 The faithful Mantso soon prepared a meal, and as Philip 
 
 u 30s 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 had eaten nothing since the previous evening he did full 
 justice to it. Then, having had no sleep during the night, 
 he threw himself on his bed and fell into a heavy, dreamless 
 slumber. When he awoke, Mantso, who had evidently 
 stationed himself just outside the door, answered his call 
 without a moment's delay. 
 
 " Is it time for breakfast, Mantso ? " asked Philip, feeling 
 hungry in spite of the good meal he had made before going 
 to sleep. 
 
 " Time for dinner, Kushok," answered Mantso. " It 
 only wants an hour to sunset." 
 
 " Then I will get up, eat my dinner, and go to bed again,'' 
 said Philip. " I have not had enough sleep yet. Have you 
 any news to tell me ? " 
 
 "Only that the chief Khalon's niece — I mean the Ku- 
 shok's wife," replied Mantso, correcting himself slyly, " has 
 sent twice to ask after you. I told the messenger that you 
 were still asleep. The chief Khalon — that is, the Regent — 
 also sent a message saying he wished to see you at his house 
 when you had rested yourself." 
 
 Philip would like to have accepted the invitation, 
 but he thought it wiser to refuse. Rashwa must have 
 been hard at work all day, and needed the rest which 
 PhUip had already partly taken. Lotzung herself, too, 
 would probably be tired, and so the young man decided 
 not to go. 
 
 In spite of the long sleep he had enjoyed during the day 
 Philip spent an excellent night, and regained consciousness 
 with that dehcious sense of recuperation which follows 
 healthy slumber. But on opening his eyes his surprise was 
 great to find Lotzung sitting at his bedside. 
 
 " Khangsar is not angry with me for coming ? " she in- 
 quired with a shade of anxiety in her eyes. " You did not 
 go to my uncle's house last night, as he asked you, and this 
 
 306 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 morning, when you did not appear two hours after dawn, 
 I thought you might be ill, and could keep away no 
 longer." 
 
 " You are a good little wife," said Philip, " and I am 
 sorry that I have made you anxious. I did not know it 
 was so late." 
 
 " Then you will get up at once, and I will cook your 
 breakfast for you like I used to do on our journey to Lhasa." 
 
 Without waiting for Philip's consent to this proposal she 
 ran out of the room to prepare the meal. It was ready by 
 the time he was dressed, Lotzung insisting on serving it 
 herself and waiting on him. At its conclusion a message 
 came from the Regent, sa5dng that he hoped to see Khangsar 
 at his house, or if he was not well enough to go the Regent 
 would come to his lodgings. 
 
 " We will go to your uncle's house together," Philip said 
 to Lotzung. 
 
 " As Khangsar wishes," the young girl replied. 
 
 On reaching the house Ixjtzung slipped away to her own 
 quarters, and Philip was shown into Rashwa's room. Here 
 he found an informal council consisting of the Regent, 
 Phala, and the three Khalons. They greeted him with 
 much warmth, and Rashwa said — 
 
 " I am very glad to see that you sustained no injury in 
 the fighting yesterday. We owe it to your quick-firing 
 muskets and to your personal bravery that we were able to 
 keep the enemy at bay till Tsering was killed. I have called 
 together an informal council of state to put on record their 
 appreciation of your services. But I feel that we owe you 
 something more than thanks. We therefore offer you the 
 appointment of a Khalon of this city." 
 
 Such an office was far from being the object of Philip's 
 ambition. Besides, as a foreigner he saw that difficulties 
 might arise if he were appointed. He therefore replied that 
 
 3°7 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 he thanked them very much for the honour offered him, and 
 regretted that he was unable to accept it. 
 
 " Is there any other position which you would prefer ? " 
 asked Phala. 
 
 Philip reflected for a moment, and then answered with a 
 smile — 
 
 " I should Uke the position of husband to your daughter. 
 A temporary marriage has already been made, but I wish 
 for a formal contract to which the parents give their con- 
 sent." 
 
 " It shall be as you desire," rejoined Phala, " and I will 
 give a dowry with the bride. As you may have heard, I 
 am going to live in Lhasa, and will therefore bestow my 
 castle at Namcho upon you as a wedding gift." 
 
 " And we will make you Deba of the district," added 
 Rashwa. 
 
 Philip was too surprised by the offer to reply at once. 
 He had seen enough of Lhasa, and he thought Namcho a 
 very pleasant localty. He would have a fine house and the 
 ruling of a large district, where as Deba he might do much 
 for the prosperity of its inhabitants. But there was one 
 difficulty. The council did not know he was a European, 
 and they must be informed before he could accept the 
 appointment. 
 
 " I shall esteem it a great honour to be Deba of Namcho, 
 but I am not a Tibetan." 
 
 " There is no law against the office being held by an 
 Eastern Mongol," said Rashwa. 
 
 " But I am not even an Eastern Mongol ; I am an 
 Englishman." 
 
 This statement produced a silence in the council chamber. 
 At length one of the Khalons said — 
 
 " What is an Englishman ? " 
 
 " He means that he is a peling," explained Rashwa, using 
 
 308 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 the title which is applied indifferently to all Europeans. 
 " But whether he is a peling or no, he has done our country 
 a great service. If he took the oath of allegiance to the 
 Government, we could still appoint him Deba of the dis- 
 trict." 
 
 Philip replied that he would readily take the oath, and 
 that there was only one more point. He was not a Bud- 
 dhist by religion, and he would like to have a priest of his 
 own persuasion living in Namcho. 
 
 " That is a matter which the Dalai Lama alone can de- 
 cide," said Rashwa. " He is in the next room. I will take 
 you to him." 
 
 On being ushered into the Dalai Lama's presence Philip 
 was pleased to see that he was already looking better. 
 Although still extremely frail, there was a little more colour 
 in his cheeks and a brighter look in his eyes than when 
 Philip had seen him in the Potala the previous morning. 
 The boy welcomed his visitor very heartily, and then 
 Rashwa briefly submitted to him the point on which his 
 decision was desired. He answered without a moment's 
 hesitation — 
 
 " Khangsar has been of great assistance to our cause, 
 and we cannot withhold our reward because he is not of 
 our religion. Let the priest of his faith live in Namcho. 
 The truth always prevails in the end. If Khangsar's re- 
 ligion should prove more inspired than ours — a possibility 
 which we followers of Buddha cannot believe — it will suc- 
 ceed. On the other hand, if our faith is the only true one, 
 Khangsar's priest will win no converts, and he will end in 
 being converted himself." 
 
 " I am content to run that risk," said Philip. " Liberty 
 for my religion is all I ask." 
 
 " There is still another matter," continued Rashwa. 
 " Khangsar wishes to marry Lotzung. They would, I 
 
 309 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 know, like you to perform the ceremony, taking advantage 
 of your presence here for its performance." 
 
 The boy looked up at Khangsar with a smile, 
 
 " So you love my sister Lotzung ? " he said. " I am 
 glad of it, for I long ago divined that she loved you. Let 
 her come here now." 
 
 Lotzung soon made her appearance, and a pretty colour 
 came to her cheeks when the Dalai Lama told her that 
 Khangsar had asked for her as his wife and wished to be 
 formally married to her at once. He then bade them kneel 
 before him, and after repeating the words of the Buddhist 
 marriage service, put Lotzung's hand in Khangsar's and 
 declared them truly married. 
 
 " We will have the wedding feast to-night," said Rashwa, 
 " and I will place a suite of rooms in this house at the dis- 
 posal of the newly married couple till Khangsar shall find 
 it convenient to set out for Namcho." 
 
 It was a quiet wedding feast, for the time did not suffice 
 for elaborate preparations. Only Rashwa's personal 
 friends were present. Lotzung looked very bright and 
 happy. "And so," said Philip laughingly to the young 
 girl when he at length found an opportunity of speaking to 
 her out of hearing of the others, " as you married me the 
 first time to get to Lhasa, you are marrying me a second 
 time to return to Namcho. Will you repudiate the con- 
 tract when you get there ? " 
 
 The young bride smiled prettily. 
 
 " You know that I am marrying you because I love you, 
 and wish to follow you wherever you go, leaving all my 
 relations and even my dear brother to be with you." 
 
 The following day Philip began to get together a cara- 
 van for his Journey to Namcho. According to the usual 
 Tibetan custom, where a Government official was concerned, 
 the cost of the caravan was defrayed at the public expense, 
 
 310 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 and Rashwa insisted that it should be in every way worthy 
 of the office he held. Philip left Lhasa in a very different 
 fashion to that in which he had entered it. Lotzung and 
 himself were mounted on excellent horses, Mantso was well 
 provided for, and a numerous train of mules and yaks 
 carried the baggage. Esa, grown fat again with the 
 indolent life of a town, and Phendi, his melancholy eyes 
 gleaming with a pleased light at the prospect of joining 
 his former master, had offered themselves as soon as they 
 heard that Philip wanted muledrivers, and were taken 
 permanently into his service. Champa, now quite re- 
 covered from Jasi's attempt to poison him, galloped up 
 and down the line, barking his appreciation of the hand- 
 some caravan which had been provided for the husband 
 of his mistress. , 
 
 Only one incident on the journey to Namcho needs re- 
 cording. At the top of one of the passes they came across 
 the camp of a small detachment of Chinese soldiers. In 
 front of one of the tents stood a coffin, which four of the 
 men were using as a gaming table. Philip's curiosity being 
 awakened, he approached them and said :■ " Is there a 
 corpse within that cofl&n ? " 
 
 One of tlie men nodded. 
 
 " Who is it ?" he continued. 
 
 " Tuen Fang, the late Senior Amban. We found him 
 dead one morning when we went to call him." 
 
 " And now you are taking his body back to China, What 
 was the cause of his death ? " 
 
 " Who can tell ? All we know is that he smoked opium 
 so much at night-time that he could hardly sit his horse 
 during the day." 
 
 Such was the end of the mandarin who had held so many 
 high offices, and had consistently abused the trust reposed 
 in him. Philip resumed his journey without telling Lot- 
 
 311 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 zung what he had heard. It was enough for him to know 
 that they need now fear no attempt at revenge on the 
 part of Tuen Fang. 
 
 On their last day's march, eight weeks after leaving Lhasa, 
 whUe they were still some six miles from the castle, a horse- 
 man came galloping across the plain full speed towards them. 
 
 " That is Maru ! " exclaimed Lotzung joyfully. 
 
 " You have good eyes, I.otzung, if you can distingiush 
 your brother at that distance," answered Philip. 
 
 " I know his seat on horseback," replied Lotzung, 
 and truly enough from the cloud of dust raised by 
 his horse's feet the young boy at length emerged, pulled 
 up his animal with practised suddenness on his haunches 
 a few feet in front of them, and gave the pair a joyous 
 greeting. 
 
 " I have been expecting you the last two days," he 
 said, " and I thought you were never coming. You have 
 travelled very slowly." 
 
 Philip explained that it was due to the size of the cara- 
 van, and then asked Maru for his news. He told them that 
 his mother had beer apprised of their coming by special 
 messenger from Phala, and had been instructed to return to 
 Lhasa as soon as the animals forming the caravan were 
 sufficiently rested. 
 
 " I shall be glad to get to Lhasa," said Maru. " Father 
 ought to have taken me with him when he went, and let 
 me fight against the wicked Regent." 
 
 Although Maru was as full as ever of masculine superi- 
 ority, he treated his sister with greater respect in her 
 position as a married woman. A mile from the castle the 
 retinue of the late Deba came out to escort their new master, 
 and Philip entered his residence in full state. Phagmo had 
 prepared a suite of rooms for them, and during the three 
 days which elapsed before she set out with her son to Lhasa 
 
 312 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 did all she could for the comfort of the bride and bride- 
 groom. 
 
 Two months after the departure of Phagmo and her son 
 Philip was in the courtyard one morning watching Lotzung 
 feed her pigeons, as on the first occasion when he saw her 
 there. He was admiring the pretty smile on her lips and 
 the light in her dark eyes when the sound of approaching 
 horsemen attracted her attention. 
 
 " I wonder who is coming, Khangsar ? " she exclaimed. 
 Philip had definitely adopted the Mongol name which he 
 had at first assumed for convenience. 
 
 " You will see in a minute," replied Philip, smiling at her 
 curiosity. 
 
 The words had hardly left his lips when under the arch- 
 way rode a grey-haired man who, though in Tibetan cos- 
 tume, was evidently not a Tibetan. At a short distance 
 followed Philip's mounted retainers. On seeing Philip, the 
 visitor jumped off his horse and came towards him with 
 outstretched hands. 
 
 " My dear Harwood, how good of you to send an escort 
 for me. A friend had just arrived at Ta-chien-lu to take 
 my work, while I had leave of absence. I started the day 
 after I got your letter, and have travelled as fast as my 
 Uttle caravan could take me ever since. All through your 
 district I have been treated with the greatest kindness. 
 But this must be your wife. Please make me known to her." 
 
 " This, Lotzung, is Mr. Ransome, a lama of the Church 
 to which I belong. You will like him, in spite of his pro- 
 fessing a different faith to your own." 
 
 Lotztmg was at once attracted by the elderly lama, who 
 looked at her with such kind eyes. 
 
 " I see that your wife is like her namesakes, the gentle 
 creatures she was feeding when my arrival interrupted her. 
 We are friends already, are we not ? " 
 
 313 
 
A Wife from the Forbidden Land 
 
 Lotzung smilingly assented, and the traveller was taken 
 into the castle, which was to be his home till a mission 
 house could be built in Namcho. There is no occasion to 
 follow Philip and his fortunes any further. Mr. Ransome 
 persuaded the young couple to be married according to the 
 ritual of the English Church, Lotzung readily consenting to 
 any ties which bound her husband more closely to her. As 
 to the struggle which ensued between the English priest 
 and the lamas of Buddhism for spiritual ascendancy in the 
 district, nothing more need be said than that, owing to the 
 unfailing tact and good-nature of Mr. Ransome, it was 
 carried on without rancour, and if he did not make many 
 converts he won a number of friends even in the ranks of 
 his religious opponents. 
 
 THE END 
 
 PLYMOUTH 
 W. BBEHDOK AND BON, LTD., FBIMTSBS