CHAPTER V

THE ROAD AND TRANSPORT

A transport 'show'--Difficulties of the way--Vicissitudes of climate--Frozen heights and sweltering valleys--Disease amongst transport animals--A tale of disaster--The stricken Yak Corps--Troubles of the transport officer--Mules to the rescue--The coolie transport corps--Carrying power of the transport items--The problem and its solution--The ekka and the yak--A providentially ascetic beast--Splendid work of the transport service--Courage and endurance of officers and men--The 12th Mule Corps benighted in a blizzard--Rifle-bolts and Maxims frost-jammed--Difficulties of a Russian advance on Lhasa--The new Ammo Chu cart-road 83-98