CHAPTER XII

TO THE GREAT RIVER

Failure of peace negociations--Opposition expected--Details of force--March to the Karo la--Villages deserted--The second Karo la action--The Gurkhas' climb--The Tibetan rout--The Kham prisoners--Hopelessness of the Tibetans' struggle--Their troops disheartened--Arrival at Nagartse--Tedious delegates--The victory of a personality--Brush with Tibetan cavalry--The last shot--The Shapés despoiled--Modern rifles--Exaggerated reports of Russian assistance--The Yamdok Tso--Dorje Phagmo--Legends of the lake--The incubus of an army--Why men travel--Wildfowl--Pehte--View from the Khamba Pass--From the desert to Arcadia--The Tibetan of the tablelands--The Tuna plateau--Homely scenes--A mood of indolence--The course of the Tsangpo--The Brahmaputra Irawaddy controversy--The projected Tsangpo trip--Legendary geography--Lost opportunities 207-238