152 GEOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS AND EXPLORATIONS. 



esteem and from whence they derive their designation of " Milm-wal." 

 In 1812, when Milam was in Nepalese territory, Messrs. Moorcroft 

 and Hearsey were travelling in Western Tibet disguised as fakirs, and 

 under the assumed names of Mayapuri and Hargiri. They visited 

 Hundes and Gartok, but on their return journey were taken 

 prisoners and detained at Daba Jong, some 80 miles N.W. of the 

 Mansarowar lake. Deb Singh and Ber Singh (father and uncle 

 of Kishen Singh) hastened to proffer their good offices, a kindness 

 which Moorcroft and Hearsey acknowledged in the following 

 testimonial : — 



" This certifies that Deb Singh and Ber Singh, sons of Dhainoo, an inhabitant and 

 man of consequence in the town of Melim in the country of Jooar, have shown to us 

 great attention and civility. Under an idea that we were in want of funds they 

 offered us a hoondee on Sreenuggur for a thousand rupees, to be paid at whatever period 

 might suit our convenience, and either in money or goods as might be most agreeable 

 to us. Although the state of our finances rendered the loan unnecessary, we have much 

 pleasure in recording the circumstance and in giving this testimonial of the goodwill 

 they bore towards us. 



Northern foot of the Himachal mountains, near "1 (Signed) YV. Moorcroft. 

 Daba, in Chinese Tartarv. 25th August 1812. J ., H. J. Hkarsky. 



A second testimonial signed by Mr. Moorcroft alone, bearing the 

 same date, recommends that the Honourable Company's officers will 

 afford all due facilities to Deb Singh and Ber Singh in enabling them 

 to dispose of their merchandise on the British side of the frontier. 

 The release of Messrs. Moorcroft and Hearsey was everj tually effected 

 by the interposition and ou the security of Deb Singh and Ber 

 Singh, but the certificate from Moorcroft giving the particulars of 

 the incident has unfortunately been lost. The other certificates are 

 still in the possession of Kishen Singh. 



Kishen Singh had made several successful explorations before 

 undertaking his fourth journey, viz : — 



(I.) 1869. — From Milam in Kumaun to Bakas Tal lake in Great 

 Tibet and thence southward along the Karnali river to 

 Kathai Ghat in British territory, 400 miles. 

 (2.) 1871-2. — From Shigatze to the Tengri Nur and thence to 



Lhasa, 300 miles.* 



(3.) 1873-4. — From Tankse in Ladak to Kashgar and beyond, 



thence south-east to Polu and south to Koh in the Pangong 



and back to Tankse, 1,250 miles, f 



On the occasion of his fourth and greatest journey Kishen Singh 



was accompanied by a Bodh fellow-villager called Chambel, who, 



* Report of Great Trigonometrical Survey for 1873-74, Appendix 2. 



t Sec page 442 of "Report of a Mission to Ynrkund in 1873." Calcutta, 1875. 



