TSEKOU TO KHAMTI 



district is governed by a liquid resident at Kiangka, with under 

 him three dcbas, and below them atjain three cheluoono- at Menkonc 

 Tchraia, and Dzayul. Around the Lamaserai of Menlcong, which 

 is situated at three days' journey from the Mekong, stretches 

 the Tsarong country ; and beyond Tsarong the rich valley of 

 Dzayul (land of the earthen pots), whence streams descend to 

 the Brahmaputra, as shown by the pundit Krishna. Finally, 

 westward again beyond Dzayul, between the Tsangpo and the 

 Lohit lies the Brahmaputra, in the Bayul — a mysterious land 

 if ever there was one, unmapped, and as free in the past from 

 Pluropean exploration as in the present from the prying eye of 

 Russian or Indian scouts. The Bayul or Pourba is divided into 

 Po-Ten (upper) independent, and Po-Me (lower) subject by pay- 

 ment of tribute to the second kinchas of Lhaca. Amoncr the 

 Thibetans of the north the Bayul is renowned for its robbers 

 and its horses, and the country is reputed rich in gold. The 

 inhabitants wear hats of ratan, and sell baskets made of the 

 same material. 



From Tsekou a road goes north, which, after skirting the 

 Dokerla and crossing the Salwen, leads to Menkong, and farther 

 to Sanguias-Kiendzang. This route offered temptations, as sup- 

 posing Sanguias-Kiendzang to be attainable we should there find 

 ourselves at the entrance to the Bayul, and, if access to it was 

 rigorously denied, there would remain the alternative of taking 

 up the itinerary of Krishna by Roema and Same. Only, in the 

 latter event we should not make many explorations. 



In order to get to Sanguias-Kiendzang, Tsarong must be 

 crossed — a dangerous province, the Lamas of which have been 

 systematically hostile to the missionaries. Moreover, it would 

 not be on the Chinese that we could reckon for support against 



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