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CHAPTER VIII. 
MURDER OF HAZRAT ALI. 
OW occurred the unfortunate murder of our surveyor, Hazrat Ali, who was 
wantonly killed by the Chinese during the course of his survey duties. 
This outrage, which was committed without the least provocation on the part 
of the victim, or of any other member of the expedition, brought our journey 
to an untimely end. How bitterly we all regret the loss of one who was ever 
a faithful friend and a devoted worker, it is impossible to say. 
The sad occurrence is best described by extracts from the diary of 
Sowerby, who was the only foreigner travelling with Hazrat Ali at the time: 
“1 left Lan-chou on June 2oth with Hazrat Ali, his servant, Muhammad 
Husein, and a small following of Chinese, with half-a-dozen mules, escorted 
by two Chinese soldiers. 
“ Our objective was Min Chou, a town about five days’ journey to the 
southward, and we expected to be caught up by Clark’s party en route. 
‘* Our road skirted a dry watercourse, which passes close to the west gate 
of Lan-chou, and at about five miles from the city we met a caravan of 
Tibetans. They were a picturesque-looking set of ruffians, some mounted on 
camels or shaggy little ponies, whilst others, including all the women of the 
party, trudged on foot. The ladies looked as ferocious as the men and were 
equally ready to engage us in conversation, which was an easy matter as both 
parties were familiar with Chinese. 
“All the Tibetans took great interest in our equipment; saddles and 
guns particularly causing much excited comment. 
‘One, who appeared to be the leader of the party, was very anxious that 
I should present him with my rifle, and, indeed, tried to draw the coveted 
weapon from its case. Unfortunately I did not feel disposed to fall in with 
his somewhat extravagant demand, though it is possible that, had we not been 
so close to Lan-chou, the party might have attempted to help themselves by 
force. 
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