THE LAND OF THE HUNS 109 



preters that we had no time to talk and must get to 

 the end of our march. They would draw off for a bit 

 and then repeat the intimidating performance, which 

 was quite as good as a play and very entertaining. 



Our great endeavour was to get to the bridge which 

 spanned the Koriali river, and across it, so that they 

 should not stop us before coming to camp under the 

 heights of Taklakhar, which, after going a few miles 

 further, we approached. As we pressed on to descend 

 some shingle banks down to the river, we were suddenly 

 intercepted by about 200 foot-soldiers or men from the 

 fort, who threw themselves in front of us in a compact 

 body, shouting with shrill, strange voices and making 

 signs to us as if frantic. Some lay on the ground before 

 us, imploring us to stop, and drawing their hands rapidly 

 across their necks ; whether this was intended as a 

 threat or some freemason's sign we could not tell, but 

 Jussoo and Boodoo begged us not to use our arms, and 

 gesticulated and argued with a confused babel of tongues. 

 Some stones began to fly, and we made a rush for the 

 bridge ; but before we could reach it these yelling 

 maniacs had hurled down the timbers that formed the 

 bridge, and we could do nothing. Jussoo interpreted 

 that they had strict orders from Lhasa that no one was 

 to go by, and that if we forced our way their heads would 

 be cut off, which the sawing motion at the neck was 

 intended to express. Mr. Drummond and Colonel 

 Smyth assembled our whole party on a mound, where 

 we held forth by our interpreters that we were friendly 

 travellers and did not desire to do them any harm ; at 

 the same time that, if any violence was attempted, we 

 were well armed, and prepared to defend ourselves and 

 property. That in pulling down the bridge and pre- 

 venting us from reaching our camping-ground they had 



