Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XXIX.—Pulling for Life on the Chargut-tso
<< 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.
436
CHAPTER XXIX.
PULLING FOR LIFE ON THE CIIARGUT-TSO.
The Nakktsong-tso was thus the turning-point of our
journey, the furthest point south that we reached in our
attempt to penetrate into the land of the burkhans and
the Holy Books. The reason Europeans are not tolerated
is not that the lamas are more fanatical now than they
were when they hospitably received the Jesuit missionaries.
In fact, they are quite as tolerant as when in the year 1846
they allowed the Lagariste Father Hue, and his colleague
Gabet, to spend two months in Lassa. Their jealous
isolation during recent years is due to political motives.
The objects of their peaceful, but effective, tactics are to
guard their frontiers against Europeans, and to conduct the
unbidden guests politely, but firmly, out of the country.
So far the Tibetans have not yielded to the captivating
prospects of a growing prosperity through trade, and the
introduction of tobacco, spirits, opium, fire-arms, and other
blessings of civilization ! No, away, they cry ; away with
your luxuries, your steel, your gold and your silver, and
leave us alone in peace in our own country. And yet Tibet’s
turn is bound to come.
Thus I wrote in my diary at tlie time on the shore of
the Nakktsong-tso, and already, as I pen this present book
the prophecy is fulfilled.
While the caravan marched back to our old camping-
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
