The Lapchak 251 



make it an undertaking rewarded by no small 

 profits. 



So the party forming the last of the detach- 

 ments consists of the chief of the mission and 

 his attendants. Sidiq-joo, the bearded man in 

 blue silk robes, white turban, and long Yarkandi 

 boots, is the head of the mission. He is a partner 

 in the well-known trading firm of Nasr Shah of 

 Leh, a family of Mohammedan Arghuns (half- 

 castes of Ladaki and Mohammedan origin) who 

 have long had the entree of Lhassa, and have 

 relations living there a privilege usually denied 

 to all but Buddhists. The titular head of the 

 mission must, however, necessarily be a Ladaki 

 Buddhist of good family, for to none but one 

 of this faith could audience with the Dalai Lama, 

 or even with the Panchen Eimpoche of Tashi 

 Lunpo, second only in holiness to the Dalai 

 Lama himself, be accorded. The individual se- 

 lected this year as the head of the mission for 

 ceremonial purposes is one Bongpa, the clean- 

 shaven, austere-looking man in a rich silk cloak 

 with a black velvet mitre on his head. The 

 "Man who has to present the Lochak" is the 

 title by which he is referred to in the letter he 

 carries. 



Behind these come a mixed escort of Arghuns 

 and Ladakis, conspicuous among whom is the 



