TSEKOU TO KHAMTI 



the beams had been withdrawn to the far side. At great 

 personal danger one of our porters got across, and, fastening a 

 noose to the planks, in half an hour we re-established the 

 connection. 



We then advanced with our guns at the head of the column 

 down a widening val- 

 ley till we came to 

 the village of Landjre. 

 It was built at the 

 confluence of two 

 rapid streams, with 

 large Thibetan houses 

 situated on terraces 

 in the midst of fine 

 culture, chiefly maize 

 and walnuts. Here 

 two roads branched — 

 one to the left, whicli 

 we should follow ; the 

 other to the right, 

 leading to Tsarong, 

 and used by the pil- 

 grims of Dokerla 

 returning from the _^„ ^^^^ 



Mekong. Any other 



route would have vitiated their pilgrimage. In the entry to the 

 village were some obos and a kortclieii (a little erection in shape 

 like a lotus bud), and from the roof of the latter projected a staff, 

 supporting several iron rings and a red crescent. 



At our approach the inhabitants came out in astonishment, but 



