ADVENTURES IN TIBET 289 



plies for our life, and that beasts of burden were 

 indispensable for transport. Successful robbery per- 

 petrated on men in these circumstances is little better 

 than murder, and it was undoubtedly our duty to 

 protect ourselves and those dependent on us. 



We lingered in the neighbourhood for several days 

 searching for the missing animals, but without success. 

 They had evidently been taken far beyond our reach, 

 and, as it was impossible to carry all our luggage 

 without them, we had to consider what could be aban- 

 doned with least risk to ourselves. Of the mules still 

 left, four died at this place, so that we had many 

 pack-saddles and jhools which were now clearly super- 

 fluous. The beautiful Berthon boat which, with much 

 trouble, we had brought thus far was not indispen- 

 sable ; there were camp-beds and chairs which, in the 

 circumstances, we condemned as luxuries, and altogether 

 a considerable reduction of the weight to be carried 

 was found practicable. But though we were obliged 

 , to abandon these things, we were by no means dis- 

 posed to make them over to the Chukpas, to whose 

 malpractices the necessity for parting with them was 

 largely due. We therefore regretfully consigned them 

 to destruction. Whatever would burn we reduced to 

 ashes, and of the costly pile soon nothing remained 

 but unattached metal fittings and half -consumed 

 leather. 



On the morning of the third day from our arrival 

 here we resumed the journey. Pike started early, and 

 several hours afterwards, when the mules and ponies 

 had returned from watering at the nomad camp and 

 Ramzan had reported all present, I set out alone. Going 

 a straight line to strike the route which had been 



