426 A DEPUTATION FROM THE JONG PEN. 



were interviewed by a deputation of Hoonyas, sent by the 

 Jongpen from his residence at Dapa, about twenty miles off, to 

 arrange about the period he was to permit us to remain in 

 Tibetan territory. At first these emissaries would hear of 

 nothing more than eight days ; but after a good deal of per- 

 suasion from Puddoo, and their hearts had been softened by 

 a bottle of whisky, they eventually agreed to fifteen, beyond 

 which they said it was impossible to extend the permission 

 without the sanction of the Jongpen. To this functionary I 

 therefore sent by them a present of a revolver, accompanied 

 by a request that, as I had come so far to hunt there, he would 

 do me the favour to extend the privilege to a month. Before 

 taking their departure, however, they asked me to sign an 

 agreement to the effect that I would not attempt to cross the 

 river Sutlej, and that I should return over the pass by the 

 appointed time, pending a reference to the Jongpen. They 

 also left two queer-looking old fellows of their number behind 

 them, to see that we did not trespass beyond the prescribed 

 limits. They were quite open to a little trade, and sold me 

 a large thick woollen rug called a " chookta," which, after 

 drowning its inhabitants by soaking it for several hours in the 

 stream, made a most comfortable and requisite addition to 

 my wraps at night. 



A sudden snowstorm delayed our departure until rather late 

 next morning, when we started in the direction of a good 

 locality for OvesAmmon, known as Tazang, with our escort of 

 Hoonya cavalry, mounted on yaks as their chargers, following 

 at some distance behind us. 



