CHAPTER VIII. 



MURDER OF HAZRAT ALL 



MOW occurred the unfortunate murder of our survejor, 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 : 



" I left Lan-chou on June 20th 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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