166 THE FORESTS OF UPPER INDIA 



but their Government, since the two invasions by the 

 Sikhs and Nepahs, has had a fixed prejudice against any 

 travellers getting too far into their country, fearing that 

 they may be invaded and annexed ; but their principal 

 fear is that their sacred places may be desecrated. The 

 attempt lately made by Mr. H. Savage Landor to force his 

 way to Lhasa, accompanied by two Kumaon coolies who 

 did not understand the Hunia language, after quarrelling 

 with his Bhotia couriers, and having no yaks or even ponies 

 to carry him or his baggage, was bound to end in a fiasco. 



Certainly, when we had once come to agreement with 

 the Zung-pun, we found the Tibet people most polite and 

 peaceable. It is true that Mr. Robert Drummond's 

 visit in i860 to the Manasarowar lake, and putting a boat 

 on it, had given great offence. The Lamas have great 

 power, and dread that their most sacred temples may be 

 desecrated by heathen dogs of Englishmen, who go every- 

 where ; and they naturally raise every obstacle to their 

 entering from the British frontier. 



The success of Mr. Bogle was the result of the policy 

 of Warren Hastings of encouraging trade with India ; 

 since then our Government has discouraged all inter- 

 course with the Tibetans ; and fairs, where trading used 

 to be carried on, have ceased to take place. 



The Bhotias who live in British territory and under 

 British laws are aware that the British do not intend to 

 interfere with their trading rights. They are excellent 

 subjects of the Empire, and all the trade between the two 

 countries is in their hands. With us they felt perfectly 

 safe, and proved themselves faithful and plucky assistants, 

 and were our friends ; but they expected to be treated 

 rather as allies than as servants, as all men beyond the 

 British frontier are equal. 



Our carriers, not being themselves armed, seemed to 



