100 Beturn of explorers from Tibet. [Dec, 



Calcutta a few days ago, bringing with him not only his journals, but his 

 instruments, which he has managed to secrete and preserve in some wonder- 

 ful manner, notwithstanding that on two occasions he was robbed of the 

 greater portion of his property. 



He has taken a number of astronomical and boiling point observations 

 and kept up a more or less continuous record of bearings and distances along 

 the line of his traverse. Some time must elapse before his observations can be 

 reduced and plotted ; thus General Walker was not in a position to give the 

 meeting any very definite information regarding the geographical results of 

 this last and most important exploration. He would, however, briefly indicate 

 the general direction of the lines of operation. 



The explorer, after spending some time at Lassa in purchasing mer- 

 chandise for sale in the regions to which he was bound and making 

 arrangements to join a kafila of traders returning to Mongolia, eventually 

 succeeded in making a good start. He accompanied the kafila as far as 

 a place called Thingali, which may be some 150 miles to the west of the 

 Lake Koko Nur ; there, in December, 1879, the kafila was attacked by a 

 band of some hundred mounted men of the Chiamogolak tribe ; they 

 robbed the explorer of most of his property, but had the grace to leave 

 him about Ks. 200 worth of merchandise wherewith to prosecute his 

 enterprise, and they did not appropriate his surveying instruments. 



From Thingali he struck ofE to the North-West, and eventually reached 

 a place called Saithang, where he had to wait for the formation of a kafila 

 of travellers proceeding towards Lob Nur ; there he was deserted by one of 

 his .companions who robbed him of most of his little remaining property 

 and his telescope. Though left nearly destitute, he was resolved not to 

 turn back if he could by any means avoid doing so. He and his remaining 

 companion therefore took service with some Mongolians and tended their 

 herds of horses for some months. Eventually they determined to move on 

 with the limited funds at their disposal, and when these failed to beg their 

 way. They advanced to a place called Saitu, which may possibly be iden- 

 tical with Marco Polo's Sachiu ; there they were detained seven months by 

 Chinese Tartars whom they were compelled to serve. Eventually a friendly 

 Lama came to their assistance and rescued them, and in his service they 

 returned to Saithang and proceeded south-eastwards to Barong Chaidam — 

 some 100 miles to the west of Lake Koko Nur, — and then southwards 

 300 m.iles to the Thuden Gompa Monastery. There they entered the 

 service of a Chinese Tartar whom they accompanied to Darchendo, or Ta- 

 Tsien-lu, where they were kindly welcomed and helped by the Jesuit 

 Fathers. They then commenced their return journey to India. Proceed- 

 ing vid Batang and Dzayul, they reached Sama, a village on the eastern 

 border of the country of the Mishmis ; they endeavoured to make arrange- 

 ments to cross the belt of Mishnii country between Sama and the British 



