250 Sport and Life in the Further Himalaya 



This, then, is the explanation of the succession 

 of caravans we have seen toiling eastward. It 

 is the embassy sent by the King of Ladak to 

 pay the triennial tribute to the Grand Lama 1 

 of Tibet and the " Clergy of Bod." The fact 

 that there is now no King of Ladak, this country 

 having many years ago been absorbed into the 

 State of Kashmir, the result of King Llachen 

 de legs Namgyal's ill-advised request for assist- 

 ance, has fortunately not led to the abandonment 

 of the reciprocal missions between Ladak and 

 Lhassa. They still continue that from Lhassa 

 coming to Ladak every year, and that starting 

 from Ladak going to Lhassa every third year. 

 The Lapchak, as it is called (properly Lochak), 

 returns from Lhassa the year following, carry- 

 ing return presents to the Maharajah of Kash- 

 mir, the representative of the old Ladak kings. 

 There are, indeed, pecuniary interests at stake 

 which, apart from other considerations, prevent 

 the old practice falling into desuetude. The 

 privilege allowed to the Lapchak of free car- 

 riage from Ladak to Lhassa and back, nomi- 

 nally to the extent of two hundred and sixty 

 loads, but really very much more, together with 

 other perquisites sanctioned by long custom, 



1 This article was written before the flight of the Dalai Lama. 

 The Lapchak mission, however, still continues. 



