128 Narrative of a Journey to Cho Lay an, fyc. [Aug. 



seem inclined to multiply themselves and their beasts for mutual pro- 

 tection against the dangers of our expedition. Hirkun Budha considers 

 that one of the greatest risks we have to encounter is the Khampa, 

 who he says are little better than organised gangs of robbers infesting 

 the vicinity of Darchin and plundering all parties they may meet not 

 strong enough to protect themselves ; they are in greater force than 

 usual this season, attracted by the concourse of people and concomitant 

 opportunities of plunder, attending the twelfth year religious fair at 

 Gangri. This year the Byansi Bhdtias thought it necessary for their 

 own safety to enter Hundes in armed parties, to which precaution they 

 ascribe their escape from a considerable "luting" and "muring." The 

 Khampa are so called from their native country, " Kham," which is 

 probably identical with the " Kumbak" of Turner ; and pending more 

 certain information about them they may be set down as an extensive 

 horde of what we call Tatars (vulgo Tartars) occupying a large tract of 

 country on the north-east of Tibet between latitudes 30° and 40° and 

 longitude 85° and 95°, and filling up the blank in our maps, between 

 the Huns of south-western Tibet and the hordes of " Kilmak," " Cal- 

 mucs," "Eleuths" or "Tatars of Koko-Nor," towards the frontier of 

 China Proper. These people frequent the province of Gnari in con- 

 siderable numbers under the color of trade and pilgrimage ; and they 

 bear a general bad character, both Hunias and Bhotias regarding them 

 with fear and distrust, particularly in unprotected situations where their 

 thievish propensities are said to break into open robbery. On some 

 occasions when unusually mild weather rendered the passes of the 

 Himalaya practicable during the winter months, they are reported to 

 have extended their depredations across the snow, and rifled the houses 

 of the upper villages whilst the Bhotias were absent in their winter 

 quarters below. The Khampa however are not exclusively of this 

 sort ; one of the tribe, by name Lochambel, who come from a distance 

 of \\ month's journey with salt, Borax and Pashm to Gartokh and 

 Pruang, is a wealthy and respectable person, well known and esteemed 

 by our Bhotias who have dealings with him. He once, at short no- 

 tice, lent Chakwa Garpun 62 Nega of gold, some 20,000 Rs. worth. 

 The country of Kham is said to be under the dominion of the Lhassa 

 Pontificate, but the extent and nature of the authority exercised is very 

 questionable. I doubt whether the Lhassan Court have any regular 



