300 AMONG THE TIBETANS 



and he treated them in the same way. They seemed to 

 have everything in common, shared everything equally, 

 and must have very hazy ideas of meum and tuum, though 

 honest and aboveboard as the day. Is this natural 

 socialism ? After tea and biscuit the Panboh showed his 

 satisfaction by holding up his thumb and saying I was a 

 jolly good fellow. This is the Tibetan mode of returning 

 thanks. Each one held up his thumb in the same way, 

 with the fist closed, and repeated the same words. Now 

 the whisky came round. It had to be explained first to 

 the Panboh that it was the same as his chhang, made from 

 barley. He took a few drops in the palm of his hand 

 and tasted it. Approval stole over his face ; and a few 

 drops went round in the usual way in the palm of each 

 man's hand. Smacking of lips, wry faces, and grunts of 

 satisfaction resulted. It was evidently too strong neat, 

 and water was called for. Then a little whisky 

 and water went round in the cups again, with universal 

 approval. This, I will make bold to say, was the first 

 time that " Napier Johnstone " was drunk by highlanders 

 of this ilk ; but the smacks, eye-twinklings, and coughs 

 bore strong resemblance to the symptoms noticeable 

 under similar circumstances in the far - off land of the 

 grateful liquor's birth. As a special honour, I mixed a 

 glassful in my own silver travelling-cup, and handed it to 

 the Panboh for his particular delectation ; but the same 

 thing happened — he took a sip and passed my silver cup 

 round to each man present as before ! It was drained 

 when it came back to the Panboh, wlio politely lianded it 

 over his shoulder, to my servant, and told him to have 

 it cleaned. The spirits warmed their hearts, and I had 

 again the emphatic verdict of their thumbs. Tandup, 

 my appointed guide, was not present when the whisky 

 went round : he was called, and his share given him, 



