Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XXVI.—Kamba Bombo
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
396 ADVENTURES IN TIBET.
the main force down upon them, and they seemed to think
that there were thousands of soldiers lying hidden amongst
the northern mountains.
They examined such of our belongings as were lying about,
but Kamba Bombo never once asked to look inside the
trunks ; the information that they contained provisions
satisfied him. All our answers were written down, and the
protocol would, he admitted, be sent direct to Lassa. With
regard to myself, he appeared to have already made up
his mind, for he did not ask me a single question. When
Shagdur was questioned, he gave his replies in a loud,
ringing voice, and asked how they dared to stop a Russian
Buriat.
But Kamba Bombo laughed and said, " I am not to be
frightened. I have had my orders from the Dalai Lama,
and I shall do my duty. Not another step towards Lassa !
If you advance it will cost you your heads," and he drew
his hand edge-wise like a knife across his throat. " It
doesn’t matter who you are, you are under suspicion. You
have come by a by-road, and must go back to your prin-
cipal camp."
Shagdur, who posed as the most important person of the
three, bore himself very creditably, and made an impres-
sion upon the Tibetans. But when he could make nothing
more of the request to continue to Lassa, he demanded
compensation for the horses that had been stolen from us.
Kamba Bombo prevaricated, and said that he could not
be answerable for what happened outside the boundaries
of his province. Thereupon Shagdur cleverly scored off
him by quickly exclaiming, " Quite so, it is not your
country. I suppose, then, it belongs to Russia !
" Upon
this Kamba Bombo grew angry, and answered curtly, that
the whole country belonged to the Dalai Lama. We should
have a couple of horses next morning.
Finally, the peremptory Governor announced that we
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
