In the Forbidden Land/Appendix

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180751In the Forbidden Land — AppendixArnold Henry Savage Landor

Letter from SIR WILLIAM LEE WARNER, C.S.I., Political and Secret Department, India Office, London.

                              INDIA OFFICE, WHITEHALL, S.W.
                                   August 4, 1898.
DEAR SIR,

     With reference to the request contained in your letter of the
     27th, and to your interview with me of the same day I forward
     herewith for your use a copy of Mr. Larkin's "Inquiry and report"
     into your treatment by the Tibetans.

                                     Yours faithfully,
                 (Signed) W. LEE WARNER.
    A. HENRY SAVAGE LANDOR, Esq.

***

GOVERNMENT REPORT BY J. LARKIN, ESQ., MAGISTRATE OF THE FIRST CLASS.

     Mr. Arnold Henry Savage Landor having been reported to have been
     captured and tortured by the Tibetans, I was sent up to Garbyang
     in Byans to ascertain the facts.

     Mr. Landor arrived in India on the 10th of April last. He
     proceeded to Almora, where he arrived on the 27th idem. He stayed
     there until the 10th of May, to make arrangements for his travels
     in Tibet. At first he was advised to take some Gurkha soldiers
     with him, but this fell through, as the military did not accede
     to his request. He then, on the 27th May, arrived in Garbyang in
     Byans patti. It appears to have been his intention to have
     entered Tibet by the Lippu Lek Pass. This is the easiest, being
     about 16,780 feet above sea level. It is the most frequented
     route taken by the traders of Byans and Chaudans, and is adjacent
     to Taklakot, a mart for wool, salt, borax, grain, &c. He was,
     however, frustrated in this, inasmuch as the Jong Pen of Taklakot
     came to know of Mr. Landor's intention and took steps to prevent
     it. He caused bridges to be destroyed and stationed guards along
     the route.

     Moreover, he appears to have been kept fully cognisant of Mr.
     Landor's moves through the agency of his spies in Garbyang.

     Under these circumstances Mr. Landor was compelled to resort to
     some other route, and selected the Lumpia Pass, which stands at
     an altitude of 18,150 feet.

     On the 13th July last, Mr. Landor, with a following of thirty
     men, entered Tibet. He reached Gyanima, where he was stopped by
     the Barkha Tarjum. This personage, however, after some
     persuasion, consented to permit Mr. Landor and seven followers to
     go forward to the Mansarowar Lake.

     Next day the accorded permission was withdrawn, and Mr. Landor
     and his party were turned back. The party returned three marches,
     when Mr. Savage Landor determined to go to Mansarowar by the
     unfrequented wilds.

     On the 21st July, Mr. Landor, with nine followers, at midnight in
     a terrific snowstorm, climbed up the mountain and went off, the
     bulk of his party continuing their retreat to the Lumpia Lek. By
     this strategic move Mr. Landor baffled the Tibetan guards
     (Chaukidárs). He carefully avoided coming into contact with any
     of the inhabitants, and in order to do so was obliged to keep to
     the high mountains and unfrequented wilds.

     Travelling thus, with the aid of his compass, sextant and sketch
     maps, he reached Mansarowar.

     Here five of his followers declined to accompany him any farther,
     so he paid and dismissed them. This was at Tucker. Thus Mr.
     Landor was reduced to a following of four men. He went on,
     however, and had accomplished but three marches more when two
     more of his followers deserted him at night. These went off with
     some of his supplies, all his servants' food, and ropes.

     Mr. Landor was now reduced to the following of a bearer (Chanden
     Sing) and a coolie (Mansing). Despite his misfortunes he
     determined to push on: his intention appears to have been to
     reach Lhassa.

     He went over the Mariam La Pass.[1] This attains an altitude of
     over 16,000 feet.

     Meanwhile the deserters had bruited about the information of Mr.
     Landor's intention of getting to Lhassa.

     While crossing the Nio Tsambo River one of Mr. Landor's yaks went
     under. The yak was saved, but its valuable load, consisting of
     all the tinned provisions, Rs. 800 in cash, three pairs of shoes,
     one slaughtered sheep, wearing apparel, razors, skinning
     instruments, and some three hundred rifle cartridges, was lost.

     This accident was directly the cause of Mr. Landor's capture, as
     he and his two followers, who were footsore, starving, and
     disheartened, were driven to seek food and horses from the
     inhabitants of the country. On the 19th of August 1897 they went
     to a place called Toxem. The villagers received them well and
     promised to supply them with food and horses. Next morning, the
     20th idem, a number of Tibetans came to Mr. Landor's tent
     bringing food and ponies.

     While Mr. Landor and his servants were engaged trying and
     selecting ponies, the crowd increased and came up behind its
     three victims.

     Suddenly, without any warning, the Tibetans rushed on Mr. Landor
     and his two servants, and overwhelming them by numbers, made
     prisoners of them. They cruelly bound their surprised victims.
     Then a number of soldiers (who had lain in ambush) arrived and
     took over the prisoners. The first person to be dealt with was
     the bearer Chanden Sing. He was accused of having taken his
     master into Tibet. He was questioned as to this, and also as to
     the maps and sketches found with Mr. Landor's things. I may
     mention that when the arrests were made the Tibetans took all of
     Mr. Landor's property, which they handled very roughly, damaging
     most of the things. Hearing the Tibetans accuse the bearer, Mr.
     Landor called out that his servant was in no way responsible for
     his having entered Tibet. Thereupon a Lama struck him (Mr.
     Landor) a blow on the head with the butt-end of his riding-whip.
     Chanden Sing was then tied down and flogged. He received two
     hundred lashes with whips, wielded by two Lamas. Then the
     prisoners were kept apart for the night, bound with cords. Next
     day Mr. Landor was placed on a horse, seated on a spiked
     pack-saddle. Mansing was put on a bare-backed horse. They still
     were bound. Mr. Landor's arms were secured behind his back. Thus
     they were taken off at a gallop towards Galshio. When the party
     were nearing that place they came up with a party of Lamas,
     awaiting them by the roadside. Here Mr. Landor's horse was
     whipped and urged to the front. A kneeling soldier, his musket
     resting on a prop, fired at Mr. Landor as he went past. The shot
     failed to take effect. Then they stopped the pony and fastened a
     long cord to Mr. Landor's handcuffs. The other end was held by a
     soldier on horseback. The party then continued their career, the
     Lamas having fallen in. While proceeding at full gallop, the
     horseman who held the cord attached to Mr. Landor's handcuffs,
     pulled hard at it to try and unhorse the latter. Had this
     occurred Mr. Landor must have been trampled to death under the
     troop of horsemen behind him. Thus they hurried onward till they
     neared Galshio,[2] when at a turn in the road a soldier was seen
     kneeling at the "ready," who fired a shot at Mr. Landor as he
     came abreast of him. This, like the previous shot, missed its
     object.

     Arriving at Galshio, Mr. Landor was torn off his pony. He was in
     a bleeding state, the spikes in the pack-saddle having severely
     wounded his back. He asked for a few minutes' respite, but was
     jeeringly told by his guards that it was superfluous, as he was
     to be beheaded in a few minutes. He was then taken, his legs
     stretched as far as they could be forced apart, and then tied to
     the sharp edge of a log shaped like a prism. The cords were bound
     so tightly that they cut into the flesh.

     Then a person named Nerba, the secretary of the Tokchim Tarjum,
     seized Mr. Landor by the hair of his head, and the chief
     official, termed the Pombo, came up with a red-hot iron, which
     he placed in very close proximity to Mr. Landor's eyes. The heat
     was so intense that for some moments Mr. Landor felt as if his
     eyes had been scorched out. It had been placed so close that it
     burned his nose. The Pombo next took a matchlock, which he
     rested on his victim's forehead and then discharged upwards.

     The shock was consequently very much felt. Handing the empty gun
     to an attendant soldier, the Pombo took a two-handed sword. He
     laid the sharp edge on the side of his victim's neck as if to
     measure the distance to make a true blow. Then wielding the sword
     aloft, he made it whiz past Mr. Landor's neck. This he repeated
     on the other side of the neck.

     After this tragic performance Mr. Landor was thrown to the ground
     and a cloth put over his head and face to prevent his seeing what
     was being done to his servant Mansing. This must have been done
     to make Mr. Landor believe that Mansing was being executed. After
     a short time the cloth was removed and Mr. Landor beheld his
     servant, with his legs stretched, tied to the same log. Mr.
     Landor was kept for twenty-four hours in this trying position,
     legs stretched as far as possible and arms bound to a pole, and
     Mansing for twelve hours. To add to their misery they were kept
     in the rain and were afterwards seated in a pool of water. The
     effect of this torture was to strain the muscles of the legs and
     arms and injure the spine.

     When Mr. Landor's legs were unloosed from their cords, they were
     so numbed and swollen that for sixteen hours he did not recover
     the use of them and feared they were mortifying. Mr. Landor's
     property was overhauled by the officials of Galshio and sealed
     up. On the afternoon of the third day at Galshio, the two
     prisoners were taken on foot to Toxem. It was a very trying
     march, inasmuch as several rivers had to be crossed.

     On his arrival at Toxem, Mr. Landor saw his bearer Chanden Sing
     in a very precarious condition, as the latter had had no food for
     four days. During all this time the prisoners were firmly bound
     and carefully guarded. Next day, Mr. Landor and Chanden Sing were
     placed on yaks. Mansing had to walk. Thus they were taken in the
     direction of Mansarowar Lake. It was only on arrival at
     Mansarowar that his guards unbound Mr. Landor.

     Arriving at Dogmar the party was stopped by the Jong Pen of
     Taklakot, who refused to give them passage through his district.
     This was a very serious affair, as it meant that the worn-out
     prisoners would have to be taken by a long circuitous route
     viâ Gyanima and into India by the Lumpia Pass. This would
     probably have done for them. Owing to the intervention of the
     Rev. Harkua Wilson, of the Methodist Episcopal Mission, Peshkár
     Kharak Sing Pal and Pundit Gobaria, the most influential person
     among the Bhutias[3] of Byans, the Jong Pen was compelled to
     withdraw his prohibition and give his sanction to the prisoners
     being conveyed to Taklakot.

     Arriving at this place the prisoners were hospitably received by
     the Rev. Harkua Wilson, who is also a medical man. He examined
     their injuries and attended to them. His statement discloses the
     dreadful condition he found them in. The Tibetan guards made over
     some of Mr. Landor's property to him at Taklakot. It was then
     found that much property had not been restored. Mr. Landor had a
     list drawn up from memory of his unrestored property. This list
     (a copy) was handed to the Jong Pen of Taklakot.

     I append the list. The Jong Pen has been called upon to restore
     the missing articles. He urges that the affair did not occur in
     his district, and that he is in no way responsible for the loss
     of the property.

     He has, however, promised to try to recover them, alleging that
     the affair has been reported to a superior authority at Gartok.
     From what I could gather here, it seems probable that all the
     missing property, save the money, will be restored. I tried to
     see the Jong Pen, but he pleaded illness, and the inutility of a
     meeting in which he had nothing new to disclose. This personage
     is notorious in these parts for his implacable hatred to English
     subjects.

     The account of the affair as given by Mr. Savage Landor is fully
     borne out by his two servants, and, moreover, the Tibetans who
     took part in it did not try to hide it.

     In the Rev. Harkua Wilson's tent at Taklakot, before Peshkár
     Kharak Sing, Gobaria and a large number of Bhutias, several
     Tibetan officials corroborated the whole account as related by
     Mr. Landor. The man Nerba, who had held Mr. Landor's hair when
     about to be beheaded and have his eyes burnt out, admitted he had
     taken such part in the affair. There can be no doubt that the
     above account is true and unexaggerated, for the whole of Byans
     and Chaudans are ringing with it. The Jong Pen of Taklakot was
     given ample opportunity to explain the affair, but he declined to
     do so.

     Mr. Savage Landor held Chinese passports, and his conduct during
     his stay in that country did not warrant the officials to have
     treated him in the barbarous, cruel way they did. I satisfied
     myself, by careful inquiry from the people here, as to how Mr.
     Landor behaved.

     He is said to have been most munificent in his dealings with all,
     and invariably affable and courteous. I had seen Mr. Landor just
     before his entry into Tibet, and when I met him I could scarcely
     recognise him, though he had then fairly recovered from the
     terrible treatment he had received. I saw the marks of the cords
     on his hands and feet, and they are still visible after this
     lapse of time. He complains that he is still suffering from the
     injury done his spine, and fears that it may be of a permanent
     nature.

                                    J. LARKIN.
    October 15, 1897.

All communications to Government should give the No., date and subject of any previous correspondence, and should note the Department quoted.

                            645
                           ———
                    No. N. 277 A. of 189 .
From
        THE UNDER-SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, N.-W. PROVINCE AND OUDH.
To
        A. H. SAVAGE LANDOR, Esq.,
             c/o Messrs. GRINDLAY, GROOM & CO.,
                  Bankers, Bombay.

Dated ALLAHABAD, November 13, 1897.

Political Department.

     SIR,

     In reply to your letter of November 5, I am desired to send you a
     printed copy of depositions recorded by Mr. Larkin as noted
     below:

      1. Of yourself; 2. Of Chanden Sing;
      3. Of Man Sing; 4. Of Rev. Harkua Wilson;
      5. Of Pundit Gobaria; 6. Of Kharak Sing;
                      7. Of Suna

            I have the honour to be, Sir,
                     Your most obedient Servant,
                              H. N. WRIGHT,
              Under-Secretary to Government, North-Western
                     Provinces and Oudh. N.M.

ALMORA DISTRICT.

IN THE COURT OF J. LARKIN, Esq., Magistrate of the 1st class.

     In re The Matter of the Tortures, Robbery, &c., of A. HENRY
     SAVAGE LANDOR, Esq., and his servants, by the Thibetan
     Authorities.

DEPOSITION OF MR. A. HENRY SAVAGE LANDOR; taken on the 4th day of October 1897. Oath administered by me.

     My name is Arnold Henry Savage Landor; my father's name is
     Charles Savage Landor; I am by caste European. British subject;
     by occupation artist and traveller; my home is at Empoli
     (Calappiano), police station Empoli, district Florence, Tuscany,
     Italy; I reside at London.

     Having made up my mind to travel in Turkistan and Tibet, for
     geographical and scientific purposes as well as to study the
     manners and customs of those people, I obtained a British
     passport from the Foreign Office and one from the Chinese
     Legation in London. I had already a passport granted me by the
     Chinese Government through the British Consul at Tientsin, China.
     I also possess letters from Lord Salisbury and the officials of
     the British Museum. I am prepared to submit all these for
     scrutiny. I arrived in India by the P. and O. ss. Peninsular
     about the beginning of April. I travelled rapidly up to Almora. I
     stayed there a short time to make arrangements for my travels in
     Tibet. I entered that country through the Lumpia Lek. I kept away
     from the road and paths, passing over several ranges of high
     mountains, camping at very high altitudes, for nearly three
     weeks. When I started I had thirty men with me. Twenty-one of
     them left me when I was only five days in. At Mansarowar Lake
     five Shokas declined to go any farther. I paid them up and they
     left. It was they who gave the Lamas of Tucker information of my
     intention to go to Lhassa. I had proceeded but three marches
     towards the Maium La Pass when my only two remaining Shokas
     deserted during the night. They carried off all my stock of
     provisions for my Hindu servants, ropes, straps, &c. My party had
     now dwindled down to Chanden Sing (bearer) and Man Sing (coolie).
     The latter was ill; I fear he is developing leprosy. His feet
     were in a very sore and cut condition, hence he could scarcely
     get along. I went over the Maium Pass and followed the course of
     the Brahmaputra River for many troublesome marches, until we
     reached the Neo Tsambo (river), in crossing which one of my yaks
     sank and its load went down and was lost. I tried hard, by
     diving and swimming in this very cold and rapid river, to recover
     my goods, but failed to do so, owing to the depth and muddiness
     of the water. The load contained all my provisions, some clothes,
     and all my shoes, cash rupees eight hundred, my lantern, some
     ammunition, and sundry knives and razors. This misfortune drove
     me to Toxem, which place we reached in a state of starvation. It
     had taken us several days to get there. Owing to the weak,
     fatigued, and starved condition of my two followers, I had to
     seek to get them food and horses, as it was impossible for them
     to get on without horses. I would not desert them, as I might
     have, as I was still prepared to push on despite the many
     difficulties I had to encounter hourly. Toxem consisted of one
     mud house and an encampment of about eighty tents. The shepherds
     received us kindly and consented to sell me horses and
     provisions. I encamped for the night about two miles beyond the
     settlement. During the evening several persons visited my
     encampment, bringing me gifts of provisions. I invariably gave
     them money in return, certainly three or four times more than the
     value of the articles presented. During the night I was disturbed
     several times, and went out into the darkness, but failed to
     discover any one. This, however, was my nightly experience; hence
     I grew to attach little moment to these noises. In the morning
     (August 20), two or three Thibetans came offering to sell me
     provisions and ponies. While I and my two servants were engaged
     examining and selecting ponies, I noticed that numbers of
     villagers came up one by one, spinning their wool or carrying
     bags of tsamba (meal), while others arrived with more ponies.
     My servants, overjoyed at the hope of getting mounts, rode first
     one pony and then another to suit themselves, Chanden Sing,
     having selected one, called me to see it and try it. I walked to
     the spot, which was about a hundred yards from my tent. Naturally
     I was unarmed. The demeanour of these people had been so friendly
     that it gave me no cause to suspect that any treachery was
     anticipated. While I stood with my hands behind my back, enjoying
     the delight of my long-suffering servants, I was suddenly seized
     from the back by several persons. I was seized simultaneously by
     the neck, arms, wrists, and legs, and was thrown down in a prone
     position. I fought and struggled and managed to shake off some of
     my captors, so that I was able to regain my feet; but others
     rushed up and I was quickly surrounded and overpowered by
     twenty-five or thirty persons. Ropes were thrown round my neck,
     legs and body, and thus entangled, I was thrown three several
     times more to the ground. I fought with my head, teeth, legs,
     arms, and succeeded in regaining my legs four times. They
     overcame me at last by strangling me with the rope which they had
     thrown round my neck. Then they bound me hand, foot, and neck.
     When I had an opportunity to look round, I saw Chanden Sing
     struggling against some fifteen or twenty foes. He was quickly
     entangled, thrown, and secured by ropes. Even Man Sing, the weak
     and jaded coolie, was overcome by four stout powerful men, though
     he was not able to offer any resistance. He, too, was bound.
     While we were struggling against our treacherous foes, some
     person gave a signal—a shrill whistle—which brought up an
     ambush of four hundred armed soldiers. These soldiers took up a
     position round us and covered us with their muskets. Then they
     searched us and rifled us of any things we had in our pockets.
     They next proceeded to my tent and took possession of everything
     I possessed. They sealed up my things in bags subsequent to
     having overhauled and examined them. Then with shouts and hisses
     they led us prisoners to Toxem. There we were separated, being
     placed in separate tents. Guards of many armed soldiers were
     placed to watch us. In the afternoon of the same day a Pombo (a
     man in authority), with several high Lamas and military officers,
     held a Court under a gaudy tent. I saw Chanden Sing led forward
     to this Court. I was led to the rear of the mud-house to preclude
     my witnessing the scene. I heard Chanden Sing being interrogated
     in a loud angry tone and accused of having been my guide. Next I
     heard Chanden Sing's moans and groans. Then a company of soldiers
     led me before this tribunal. I was ordered to kneel, and as I
     would not do so, they tried to compel me to do so by forcing me
     on my knees. I succeeded in maintaining a standing posture. Then
     I beheld my servant Chanden Sing lying down, stripped from the
     waist downwards, in the midst of a number of Lamas and soldiers.
     I saw two stalwart Lamas, one on each side of him, castigating
     him with knotted leather thongs. They were laying on him with
     vigorous arms from his waist to his feet. He was bleeding. As I
     could not be compelled to kneel, I was allowed to sit down before
     the Pombo's officer. Then my note-books and printed maps were
     produced, and I was interrogated, first as to the route I had
     taken, then as to why I had drawn my maps and sketches. I
     explained as best I could, partly through my servant Chanden Sing
     and partly through an interpreter (a person who styled himself a
     Gurkha and who knew a little Hindustani. He wore the garb of the
     Tibetan). I explained to the officers that Chanden Sing, my
     servant, did not know the route or anything about the maps and
     sketches; that I had brought him as my servant, and that I alone
     was responsible for the route taken by me, and for the maps and
     sketches; that my servant was not to be punished; that I should
     be if anybody was punishable. Thereupon one of the Lamas struck
     me a hard blow on the head with the butt-end of his riding-crop,
     and they continued to castigate my servant Chanden Sing. I was
     led away captive, but nevertheless heard the moans of my
     unfortunate servant. It began raining heavily, and I was taken to
     a tent, where I was cruelly bound. Soldiers were placed within
     and without the tent to guard me. I was thus kept the greater
     part of the night with my arms manacled behind my back and my
     legs bound. I was so bound that rest or sleep was impossible. The
     tent was swarming with vermin, which quickly covered me; and I
     may here remark that I suffered unspeakable tortures from this
     pest all the time I was in captivity, as I was never permitted to
     wash, bathe, or change my clothes. In the tent my guard lighted
     a fire of yak's dung, and the tent was filled with a suffocating
     smoke, which well-nigh choked me. I was placed near a heap of
     this stinking fuel. I must say that it was a night full of
     indescribable misery for me. Though I was fasting all that day
     and night, yet my cruel jailers gave me no food. I was thus kept
     a prisoner the following day until about 3 or 4 P.M. Then a
     soldier entered the tent and informed me that I was to be
     flogged, my legs broken, my eyes burnt out, and then beheaded. I
     merely laughed at him; I could not but think that this was said
     merely to intimidate me. Half an hour later another person
     arrived and signalled to my guard to lead me out. Not considering
     me sufficiently secure already, they tightened my bonds and tied
     others round my body. In this fashion I was taken to the sole
     house (mud one) in the encampment. Here an enormous pair of heavy
     handcuffs were put on my hands, which were still kept behind my
     back. Even in this the treachery of my captors was shown, for
     they patted me on the back and called me a good man and told me I
     was to be taken back to Taklakot. This they said fearing I would
     resist. Then, after locking the handcuffs, they made the key over
     to one person, who rode away quickly with it lest I might
     possibly manage to get the key and unlock my handcuffs. For this
     reason I was never permitted to see or know who carried the key.
     Just then I heard the voice of my servant, Chanden Sing, calling
     to me in a very weak tone. He said: "Hazur! Hazur! Hum
     murjaiega!" I endeavoured to get to the poor wretch's
     assistance. Upon my trying to move towards him my several guards
     sprang upon me and ruthlessly grappled me and threw me on to the
     back of a horse. I could only call aloud to my poor servant that
     I was being taken to Taklakot that day, and that he would be
     brought after me the following day. I noticed that Chanden Sing
     was roughly seized and hurled back into one of the rooms of the
     house, so that we could hold no conversation. My other servant,
     Man Sing, had his arms pinioned, and he was put on a bare-backed
     pony. The saddle of the horse I had been thrown upon is worthy of
     description. It was merely the wooden frame of a very high-backed
     saddle. From this high projecting back or crupper four or five
     sharp iron spikes were sticking out. These caught me on the small
     of my back. My guard was then augmented by some twenty or thirty
     mounted soldiers with muskets and swords. My pony was held by a
     horseman, who rode before me. We set off at a furious gallop.
     Thus we travelled for miles until we arrived at a spot where the
     Pombo with a following of Lamas, banner-men, and soldiers, some
     two hundred in all, were drawn up. Here my pony was allowed to go
     on first, and the others reined up and drew aside. As I passed
     before the Pombo and his following a person named Nerba (the
     Private Secretary of the Tokchim Tarjum) deliberately knelt and
     fixed his musket on its rest and fired at me from a few paces.
     The bullet whizzed past me: I was still at a gallop, which no
     doubt saved my life, as the marksman could not take a steady aim.
     My pony took fright and reared and plunged, but I maintained my
     seat, though I was being cruelly pricked by the spikes in the
     crupper. My pony was then seized and a long cord with a swivel at
     the end was fastened to my handcuffs. The cord was about fifty
     yards long. The other end was held by a horseman. In this way we
     all set off at a hard gallop, and in order to accelerate the
     speed, a horseman rode by my side and he lashed my pony furiously
     to make it go at its hardest; meanwhile the horseman who held the
     cord did his utmost to pull me out of the saddle, so that I would
     have of a certainty been trampled to death by the cohort behind
     me. While thus riding furiously with my arms extended backwards I
     had the flesh rubbed off my hands and knuckles, so much so that
     the bone was exposed in places, and as the horseman at the back
     tugged to get me off and I clung hard with my knees, every tug
     brought me into forcible contact with the spikes in the crupper
     and wounded me cruelly. The cord was one made of yak's hair. It
     was strong, but it eventually gave way. The shock unhorsed the
     soldier. I was all but thrown. This ludicrous incident provoked
     much mirth among my guards. They stopped my pony and the runaway
     steed of the dismounted cavalier. The cord was retied with sundry
     strong knots, and after an interruption of a few minutes we
     resumed our breakneck gallop, I being in front. When nearing
     Galshio, and as I was going round the curve of a sandhill, a
     soldier, who had been posted in ambush, fired a shot at me from a
     few paces distant. The shot did not strike me. This incident did
     not stop our headlong career, and we continued on until we
     arrived at Galshio about sunset. This was the 21st August last.
     At this place there is a large monastery on the crown of a low
     hill. At some distance from the base of the hill, and on the
     plain, was pitched the large white tent of the Pombo. Our
     cavalcade drew up there. I was then roughly torn out of my saddle
     by two or three men. I requested to stop for one moment. My
     captors refused me this and, roughly thrusting me forward, said
     that, as I was about to be beheaded in an instant, it was
     unnecessary. I was hustled to the left front of the tent, where,
     on the ground, lay a log of wood in the shape of a prism. Upon
     the sharp edge of it I was made to stand. I was held by the body
     by several persons, while others pulled my legs as wide apart as
     they could be stretched. Then my feet were very securely tied by
     cords of yak-hair. The cords were so tight that they cut into the
     flesh in numerous places, some of the cuts or wounds being about
     three inches long. When I was thus secured one ruffian (Nerba),
     whom I have alluded to above, came forward and seized me by the
     hair of my head. He pulled my hair as hard as he could. My hair
     was long, as I had not had it cut since the day preceding my
     departure from London about the middle of March. The others
     formed up in front of me in a semicircle. Then the Pombo arose
     and was handed a bar of iron, which had been made red hot in a
     brazier, the end grasped by the Pombo being bound round with
     red cloths. He strode up to me, urged on by the Lamas, and said
     jeeringly that as I had gone to see the country, my punishment
     would be to have my eyes burnt out. This was in allusion to what
     I had said at Toxem, viz.—that I was a traveller and merely
     wished to see the country. He then placed the red-hot bar of iron
     parallel to and about an inch and a half or two inches from my
     eyeballs, and all but touching the nose. The heat was so intense
     that it seemed as if my eyes were desiccated and my nose
     scorched. There is still a mark of the burn on my nose. I was
     forced to shut my eyes instinctively. He seemed to me to have
     kept the bar of heated iron before my eyes for fully thirty
     seconds or so. After some moments I opened my eyes and beheld the
     hot iron on the ground. I saw him take a musket from the hands of
     one of the soldiers standing by. He placed this against my
     forehead and discharged it upwards, giving me a severe shock,
     though nothing worse. Handing back the discharged weapon to the
     soldier, the Pombo seized a long two-handed sword and came at
     me. He swung it from side to side, all the time foaming from his
     mouth. This foaming, I believe, was produced artificially. He
     then motioned to the man who all this time held me by the hair of
     my head to bend my neck. I resisted with all my might to keep my
     head erect. Then the Pombo touched my neck with the sharp blade
     of his sword as if to measure the distance for a clean, effective
     stroke. Then he raised the sword and made a blow at me with all
     his might. The sword passed disagreeably close to my neck, but
     did not touch me. I did not flinch; and my cool indifferent
     demeanour seemed to impress him, so much so that he seemed
     reluctant to continue his diabolical performance, but the posse
     of Lamas urged him on by gesticulations and vociferous shouts.
     Thereupon he went through the same performance on the other side
     of my neck. This time the blade passed so near that I felt that
     the blow had not been more than half an inch from my neck. This
     terminated the sword exercise, much to the disgust of the Lamas,
     who still continued to urge the swordsman on. Then they held an
     excited consultation. About this time my coolie, Man Sing, who
     had frequently fallen off his bare-backed pony, arrived. The
     person who held my hair then relinquished his hold, and another
     person came up and gave me a forcible push, which gave me a nasty
     fall on my back, straining all the tendons of my legs. Then my
     servant Man Sing was brought forward and tied by his legs to the
     same log of wood to which I was fastened. Then they made it
     appear that they were going to behead Man Sing. I was pushed up
     into a sitting posture and a cloth thrown over my head and face,
     so that I could not see what was being enacted. I heard Man Sing
     groan, and I concluded he had been despatched. I was left in this
     terrible suspense for about a quarter of an hour. Then the cloth
     was removed, and I beheld my servant lying before me bound to the
     log. We both asked for food. This seemed to amuse our torturers,
     for they laughed. In the meanwhile the day was beginning to wane,
     and our jailers made us understand that our execution was merely
     put off to the following day. After some time tsamba (meal) and
     tea, were brought in, and it was stuffed into our mouths by our
     captors. We were kept out in the open without any shelter from
     the pouring rain. We were sitting in one or two inches of rain
     and were drenched and numbed with cold. I have already said my
     hands were manacled from the back; so also were Man Sing's. But
     at nightfall our captors increased our tortures by straining our
     manacled arms upwards as high as they could be forced, and then
     secured them to an upright pole at the back. This caused very
     severe pain, straining the spine in an incredible way. Then they
     tied a cord from Man Sing's neck to mine, the effect of which was
     to make us maintain a most painful position. A guard encircled
     us, and with them were two watch-dogs tied to pegs. The guard
     were apparently so confident of our not being able to escape,
     that they drew their heavy blankets over their heads and slept.
     One of them left his sword lying by his side. This made me
     conceive the plan to try to escape. Knowing the extremely supple
     nature of my hands, I succeeded in drawing the right hand out of
     my handcuffs. After an hour's anxious and stealthy work I managed
     to unloose Man Sing's bonds round his feet. In his joy at feeling
     partly free, Man Sing moved his legs rather clumsily, which the
     vigilant watch-dogs detected and gave the alarm by barking. The
     guard were aroused. They went and fetched lights and examined our
     fastenings. I had succeeded in replacing my hand inside the
     handcuff. They found Man Sing's bonds loose and, giving him a few
     cuts with a whip, warned him that if he undid them again they
     would decapitate him, and refastened them. Then they placed the
     light between us and put a shelter overhead to prevent the rain
     extinguishing the light. At about 6 or 7 A.M. the following day
     they undid Man Sing's feet. I was kept all that day until sunset
     in the same uncomfortable and painful posture. Thus I was kept
     fully twenty-four hours. During the day my property had been
     overhauled and sealed. One of the Lamas picked up my
     Martini-Henry rifle and put a cartridge in the breach, but failed
     to push it home firmly. He then discharged the gun. The muzzle of
     the barrel burst and the face of the Lama was much injured
     thereby. I laughed heartily at this, and this apparently amused
     the Pombo, for he, too, joined in. About half an hour after
     this incident my feet were untied. It was then sunset. I found I
     had lost the use of my feet. It took my right foot some two or
     three hours before the blood began to circulate freely, but my
     left foot remained like dead until the following day. That night
     my feet were secured by cords. A bowl of some boiling steaming
     liquid, which I was informed was tea, was presented to me to
     drink. The eagerness of the surrounding Lamas that I should
     partake of it aroused my suspicion. When it was pushed up to my
     lips I merely sipped it and declined it. After a short time I
     felt most sharp, excruciating, pains in my stomach, which
     continued for several days. I could not but conclude that the
     drink proffered had been poisoned. The following day Man Sing and
     I were led back on foot to Toxem, our jailers riding on horses.
     We had to go at a great speed despite our severely lacerated
     feet. We crossed several cold streams, sinking in mud and water
     to the waist. At Toxem, to my great delight, I beheld Chanden
     Sing still alive. We were detained there for that night. On the
     following day we were placed on yaks' backs and hurried off
     towards Taklakot. Thus we journeyed at an unpleasantly fast pace
     for fifteen days, from before daybreak to nightfall. Our guards
     were bent on taking us viâ the Lumpiya Pass; but as this meant
     a long protracted journey of fifteen or sixteen days, over ice
     and snow, I knew that we would, in our starved, weakened state,
     succumb. We were all but naked. This was a day's journey on this
     side of Mansarowar, where our bonds had been unloosed. We
     rebelled, and it well-nigh ended in a fight, but our guards
     consented to halt at Dogmar, until they sent to inquire if the
     Jong Pen of Taklakot would give us passage through his
     jurisdiction. After much demur we were eventually taken to
     Taklakot. This arrangement, I subsequently learnt, was entirely
     due to the good offices and energy of the Political Peshkár
     Kharak Sing Pal, Rev. H. Wilson, and Pundit Gobaria. On arriving
     at Taklakot we hastened to Rev. Harkua Wilson's tent, where we
     were warmly received, attended to, fed, and clothed. My injuries
     were examined by the Rev. Harkua Wilson, who is a hospital
     assistant, and who will be able to depose to their nature and
     extent. In this gentleman's tent, and in the hearing of several
     persons, among whom were Peshkár Kharak Sing, Rev. H. Wilson,
     and Pundit Gobaria, the man Nerba, above mentioned, the Toxem
     Tarjum, and the Jong Pen's secretary, and also Lapsang, chief
     secretary to the Jong Pen, admitted that my account of the affair
     was perfectly true. Some of my property, more or less damaged,
     was then restored me by the Tokchim Tarjum. I then gave him two
     lists, one showing articles restored me, and the other the
     articles missing. The Peshkár, Kharak Sing, has copies of the
     lists. I was in a very weak state, very exhausted through what I
     had suffered and little food. It was due to the kind, liberal,
     and attentive care and treatment of the Rev. H. Wilson and
     Peshkár Kharak Sing Pal that I recovered. The few ragged
     clothes I had on were literally swarming with lice, as I had no
     change of raiment, nor was I ever allowed to wash. I contracted
     the vermin from the tents I was kept in and also from my guards
     who at first slept round me.

     Read over to witness.

          A. HENRY SAVAGE LANDOR. J. LARKIN.

DEPOSITION OF CHANDEN SING, taken on the 9th day of October 1897.

Solemn affirmation administered by me.

     My name is Chanden Sing; my father's name is Bije Singh; I am by
     caste Thatola; thirty-two years of age; by occupation kheti; my
     home is at That, police station Bisot, district Almora.

     I took service as a bearer with Mr. Landor at Almora on the 27th
     or 28th April last. I accompanied him on his trip to Tibet. We
     went along through the wilds, encountering many hardships and
     reached Toxem. There I insisted on my master buying ponies to
     take us to Darjeeling. This resulted in our capture, for up to
     then we had vigilantly kept away from the people. The people who
     brought us ponies to buy played us false. They informed the
     authorities, who sent soldiers, who lay in ambush behind the
     sandhills until the crowd of horse dealers and lookers-on, whom
     we did not suspect of treachery, surrounded and seized us. We
     were bound with cords by the arms (at back) and legs. My master
     was more cruelly tied than we two servants. We were taken to the
     Rája,[4] who accused me of having brought my master into the
     country. I was then stretched out and two strong men with whips
     inflicted two hundred stripes on me. I was questioned as to the
     maps. My master called out that he, not I, alone understood them,
     and asked that I should not be beaten. Thereupon a Lama struck
     him across the head and removed him to a distance, so that I
     could not communicate with him. They took all our property. Then
     we were kept separate for the night. I was put in a room and my
     hands tied to a pole. I could not sleep with the pain I was in.
     Next day my master, with his hands tied behind his back, was put
     on a spiked saddle and tied by a long rope held by a horseman. He
     went at a gallop surrounded by about fifty horsemen armed with
     guns and swords. Man Sing, our coolie, was also taken with him.
     My guards informed me my master was to be decapitated at Galshio,
     and that I was to be beheaded where I was. On the fourth or fifth
     day my master returned. Meanwhile I was a close prisoner, bound
     up without food. When I saw my master he was in a pitiful state.
     He was handcuffed with enormous cuffs, clothes torn to rags,
     bleeding from his waist, feet and hands swollen. Next day a guard
     on horseback took us back, bound as we were, on yaks' backs,
     towards Mansarowar. There I had my cords unloosed. My master was
     kept bound until we got to Tangchim. We were eventually taken to
     Taklakot, where the Rev. Harkua Wilson met us and saw our
     condition. He attended to our wants. My master was well-nigh at
     death's door. The Tibetans returned some of my master's property,
     but they have kept about 475 rupees in cash, two rifles,
     revolver, two files, a lot of soap, medicine, a butterfly dodger,
     matches, a box of mathematical instruments, a quantity (400)
     cartridges, a large box of photographic plates and negatives,
     three bags. We did not molest any one, and paid more than four
     times the value for any food we bought.

     Read over to witness.

                               J. LARKIN.

DEPOSITION OF MAN SING, taken on the 9th day of October 1897.

Solemn affirmation administered by Pandit Krishnanand.

     My name is Man Sing; my father's name is Sohan Sing; I am by
     caste Pharswal; twenty-five years of age; by occupation kheti;
     my home is at Sileri, police station Bichla Kattyur, district
     Almora.

     I accompanied Mr. Savage Landor into Tibet. We were surrounded
     and arrested at Toxem while bargaining and selecting ponies. I
     was tied up hand and foot, and again tied to a log of wood with
     my master. When I begged for mercy, they threatened to behead me
     and struck me on the head with the handle of a kukri. We were
     taken to Galshio. There the Tibetans were on the point of
     beheading my master. They tried to burn out his eyes. They fired
     at him twice to kill him. They tried to pull him off his horse to
     have him trampled upon. He was subjected to many insults and
     hardships. We were kept bound and guarded until brought to
     Mansarowar. There our hands were untied. Chanden Sing was with
     us. He received about two to three hundred lashes at Toxem. I got
     off most lightly, as when the three of us were captured and
     examined, I said I was merely the yak driver and not responsible
     for anything. I lost nothing, but they took my master's
     property—three firearms, some money, and other things; I cannot
     enumerate them. We were brought back to Taklakot, where we met
     friends. My master was made to sit on a spiked saddle and taken
     from Toxem to Galshio.

     Read over to witness.

                               J. LARKIN.

DEPOSITION OF THE REV. HARKUA WILSON, taken on the 9th day of October 1897. Oath administered by me.

     My name is Harkua Wilson. By caste Christian; forty-six years of
     age; by occupation missionary; my home is at Dwarahat, police
     station M. Dwara, district Almora. I reside at Gunji, Byans.

     I am a missionary in the American Methodist Episcopal Society. My
     work is in the northern pattis or Bhot. I accompanied Mr.
     Savage Landor in July last as far as Gyanima in Tibet. We went
     through the Lumpiya Pass. It took us four days from Lumpiya to
     get to Gyanima. At this place the Barkha Tarjam declined to allow
     me to go on, but he allowed Mr. Landor (who was said to be my
     brother) with four porters and three servants to go on; but the
     following day he withdrew this permission. We then returned three
     marches. At midnight in a snowstorm Mr. Landor went up the
     mountains, determining to go through Tibet by the wilds. He had
     with him nine followers. He was then in perfect health and
     strength, and so were his followers. At the end of August I heard
     that Mr. Landor had been arrested, and, fearing the Tibetans
     would kill him, I hastened to Taklakot to do my utmost to save
     him. There I learnt that Mr. Landor and his two servants were
     being brought back. Hearing that it was the intention of the
     Tibetans to take them viâ the Lumpiya, I, with Pandit Gobaria,
     Jai Mal, and Lata, induced the Jong Pen of Taklakot to allow Mr.
     Landor to be brought to Taklakot. On the evening of 7th September
     Peshkár Kharak Sing arrived there. At about 11 A.M. on the 8th
     September Mr. Landor, Chanden Sing, and Man Sing arrived. I took
     them to my tent and heard their account of what had happened. I
     could hardly recognise Mr. Landor; he looked very ill and seemed
     nearly exhausted. I examined his injuries and found that his
     forehead had the skin off and was covered with scabs. His cheeks
     and nose were in the same state. His hair had grown long. He was
     unshaven and unkempt. He was in rags and dirty, covered with
     swarms of lice. His hands, fingers, and wrists were swollen and
     wounded. On his spine at the waist he had an open sore, and the
     parts around were swollen and red. His seat was covered with
     marks of wounds caused by spikes. His feet were swollen, and so
     were his ankles. The flesh about the latter was much hurt and
     contused, showing marks of cords having been tightly bound round
     them. He was in a very low condition. I attended to him, having
     given him a bath and a change of clothes. I gave him food, but
     though he said he was famished, he could scarcely eat. I am
     confident, if he had been a few days longer in the hands of the
     Tibetans and had been taken viâ Lumpiya, he would have died.
     After half an hour the Tibetans brought some of Mr. Landor's
     things under seal. Some of the Tibetan officials on one side,
     Peshkár Kharak Sing and Gobaria and myself on the other, made
     out a list of the property, which we took over, and a list was
     prepared of the articles taken from Mr. Landor and which were
     missing. Mr. Landor dictated the list from memory. Copies of
     these lists were furnished to the Jong Pen. I kept Mr. Landor at
     Taklakot until the afternoon of the 11th September. Then I
     conveyed him by easy stages to Gunji, where I have a dispensary,
     and attended to him. I am a hospital assistant. I sent off
     reports to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner. Chanden Sing
     and Man Sing were also in a wretched state. The former had marks
     of recent flogging from his waist to above his ankles.

     Read over to witness.

                               J. LARKIN.

DEPOSITION OF PANDIT GOBARIA, taken on the 13th day of October 1897. Solemn affirmation administered by Pandit Krishnanand.

     My name is Gobaria; my father's name is Jaibania; I am by caste
     Garbial; forty-eight years of age; by occupation trader; my home
     is at Garbyang, police station Byans, district Almora.

     I heard that Mr. Landor had been arrested and brought down as far
     as Rungu, and saw that the Jong Pen of Taklakot was sending men
     to divert Mr. Landor by the long roundabout route viâ the
     Lumpia Pass. I went to the Jong Pen and succeeded in getting him
     to allow Mr. Landor to be brought to Taklakot. Next morning Mr.
     Landor and his two servants with two yaks arrived. Mr. Landor was
     in a very bad state—in a dying state. A list of Mr. Landor's
     property as received from the Tokchim Tarjum was made. Then Mr.
     Landor had a list of things taken from him and not returned made
     out. A Tibetan, named Nerba, who was present, admitted that he
     had taken part in Mr. Landor's torture and had held him by the
     hair. The official who had tortured Mr. Landor was the Galjo
     Changjo and a Lama.

     Read over to witness.

                               J. LARKIN.

DEPOSITION OF THE POLITICAL PESHKAR KHARAK SING, taken on the 9th day of October 1897. Solemn affirmation administered by me.

     My name is Kharak Sing; my father's name is Gobind Sing; I am by
     caste Pal; twenty-six years of age; by occupation Peshkár; my
     home is at Askot, police station Askot, district Almora.

     I am the Political Peshkár at Garbyang in Byans. I knew and
     reported that Mr. Henry Savage Landor had gone into Tibet. On the
     5th September I learnt from Bhotias that he had been stopped at
     Toxem and reported it. I then proceeded to Taklakot in Tibet, to
     inquire into the matter. On the 7th September, at Taklakot, I
     learnt that Mr. Landor was a prisoner at Dogmar, and that the
     Jong Pen would not permit his being brought into Taklakot, as
     this meant that Mr. Landor would have to go to Gyanima and viâ
     the Lumpia Lek. I then insisted on the Jong Pen allowing Mr.
     Landor a passage to Taklakot, and warned him of the consequences
     if he declined. The Jong Pen consented, but gave orders that Mr.
     Landor should be conveyed hurriedly by night through Taklakot to
     the Lippu Lek. I protested against this, and eventually Mr.
     Landor, on 8th September, was conveyed into Taklakot. The Jong
     Pen had sent two sawárs to his guard to admit them. In the Rev.
     Harkua Wilson's tent Mr. Landor related how he had been tortured.
     There were several of the Tibetans present who had taken part in
     the tortures, and they signified that all of Mr. Landor's story
     was true. Among them was Nerba, of Thokchim Tarjum, who admitted
     that he had held Mr. Landor by the hair when about to be
     beheaded, and had cut the nails of his fingers and toes. He
     admitted he had taken a gold ring from Mr. Landor, which a
     soldier had taken from him. I made a report of all this and sent
     (1) a list of Mr. Landor's property restored him by the Tibetans
     and (2) a list of articles missing. I know Mr. Landor had two
     rifles and a revolver when he went into Tibet and a considerable
     amount of money. Mr. Landor was in a very critical position; he
     was past recognition. He was wounded on the face, body, hands,
     and legs. I went to the Jong Pen and protested at the treatment
     given Mr. Landor. The former boldly admitted that Mr. Landor had
     been treated as alleged, and that it was their duty to act so.
     The Jong Pen promised to try and have Mr. Landor's missing
     property restored to him. I know he wrote off to the Garban of
     Gartok about orders issuing to the Toxem Tarjum. He has engaged
     to send me anything recovered.

     Read over to witness.

                               J. LARKIN.

DEPOSITION OF SUNA, taken on the 14th day of October 1897. Solemn affirmation administered by me.

     My name is Suna; my father's name is Gandachiju; I am by caste
     Khumhar; forty-two years of age; by occupation trader; my home is
     at Gunji, police station Byans, district Almora.

     I saw Mr. Landor and his two servants as prisoners about one and
     a-half month ago, this side of the Mansarowar Lake. Mr. Landor
     and Chanden Sing were on yaks; Man Sing on foot. They were well
     guarded. Tunda and Amr Sing were with me. They went on ahead to
     Taklakot while I stayed back with the sheep. They went to inform
     the Rev. Harkua Wilson of the capture. I saw Mr. Landor detained
     at Dogmar.

     Read over to witness.

                               J. LARKIN.

Statement of property confiscated by the Tibetan authorities, and recovered some months later by the Government of India.

                                        189 .
                                 DEPARTMENT
                                 -------------------------------
                                 ''From''
                                     H.K. GRACEY, Esq., C.S.,
                                 ''The Deputy Commissioner of''
                                             ''Almora'',

                                 ''To''
                                 A.H. SAVAGE LANDOR, Esq.,
                                 c/o GRINDLAY, GROOM & CO.
                                         BOMBAY.

                                 ''Dated 10th December'' )
                                                       ) 1897
                                 ''Received''            )

                                                 897
                                                -----
Revolver, 1.                                No. XXII. of 1897.
Jewel ring, 1.                   -------------------------------
Cash--68/12/--in eight-anna       ''File No.''  .
    pieces.                                   Serial No.  .
Cartridges for rifles, 110.      -------------------------------
Rifles, 2 (1 damaged).
Cartridges for pistol, 37.
Cleaning-rods for rifles, 2.     -------------------------------
Cover for rifle, 1.                    ''File Heading.''
    "     revolver, 1.             ''Property of'' Mr. H. SAVAGE
Leather strap, 1.                               LANDOR.
Net to catch butterflies, 1.     -------------------------------
                                                SUBJECT.
                                       Has the honour to inform him
                                 that his marginally noted articles
                                 have been received by the Political
                                 Peshkar of Garbyang from
                                 the Jong-pen of Taklakote.

                                    W. SMITH, C.S., ''for''
B.R. Regr. No. 27 ) P. No. 2131        H.K. GRACEY, C.S.,
Dept. XXII. B.--  ) 11-9-96-       ''Deputy Commissioner, Almora.''
1,00,000 of 1896. ) P.D.               W.J.W.

          Certificate from DR. WILSON.
                                         DHARCHULA BYAS, BHOT.

     I herewith certify that I accompanied Mr. A. Henry Savage Landor
     in his ascent up the Mangshan mountain, and that Mr. Landor and a
     Rongba coolie reached an altitude of 22,000 (twenty-two thousand)
     feet. Owing to the rarefied air, I and the other men accompanying
     Mr. Landor were unable to go as far as he did. Mr. Landor was at
     the time carrying on him a weight of thirty seers (60 lbs.),
     consisting of silver rupees, two aneroids, cartridges, revolver,
     &c. During the whole time I travelled with Mr. Landor he always
     carried the above weight on him, and generally carried his rifle
     besides (7¼ lbs. extra). We all suffered very much during the
     ascent, as the incline was very steep, and there was deep snow
     and much troublesome débris.

     I also certify that I took many photographs[5] of Mr. Landor and
     his two servants after they were released, and Mr. Landor looked
     then very old and suffering, owing to starvation and the wounds
     that had been inflicted upon him by the Tibetans.

        (Signed) H. WILSON,
                     In charge of Bhot Dispensaries,
                    American Methodist Episcopal Mission.

                            DHARCHULA, April 27, 1898.
DEAR MR. LANDOR,

     Do you remember the night when we separated near Lama Chokden in
     Tibet, you to proceed towards Lhassa, and I to return to India?

     I have in my lifetime, seen few such fierce snowstorms. The storm
     had been raging the whole day and night, and the wind was blowing
     so hard that we could not hear each other speak. I can only
     recollect with horror at the dreadful anxiety I was in when you,
     with a handful of men, escaped from the Tibetan soldiers watching
     us, and in the dark fearful night proceeded to take your men up
     the mountain range, with no path, and among loose stones and
     boulders, a way, indeed, not even fit for goats.

     That night, I well remember, you were carrying a weight much
     greater than the one you usually carried, thirty seers (60 lbs.),
     for when you left the tent you had in your hand a small bag with
     200 extra silver rupees, and you carried your revolver, your
     rifle, and some extra ammunition. I assure you that I look back
     with amazement at how you succeeded in pulling through the
     dangers and difficulties of that night alone.

                                 Yours sincerely,
              (Signed) H. WILSON,
                        American Methodist Episcopal Mission.

              DR. H. WILSON'S Statement.

     I herewith certify that, having heard at Gungi (Byas) that Mr. A.
     Henry Savage Landor, after losing all his provisions in a large
     river, had been captured by the Tibetans at Toxem and had there
     been tortured, I proceeded to Taklakot (Tibet) in the hope of
     obtaining further news. At Taklakot the news was confirmed, and I
     heard that Mr. Landor and two servants were brought back under a
     strong guard. Some uncertainty prevailed as to what route he
     would be made to follow, and efforts were made by the Tibetans to
     make him proceed by the long, cold, and dangerous route viâ the
     Lumpiya Pass, instead of by the shorter and easier route viâ
     Taklakot. We heard that Mr. Landor and his two men were in very
     poor health owing to the ill-treatment by the Tibetans, and no
     doubt the long journey over ice and snow by the Lumpiya Pass left
     but little chance of their reaching Gungi alive. At the request
     of Jaimal Bura, Latto Bura and myself, Pundit Gobaria despatched
     a man to the Jong Pen at Kujer to explain that we would be
     thankful and would consider it a great kindness if he would allow
     Mr. Landor to travel through Taklakot. At last, after much
     trouble, our request was granted. The officer who brought us the
     news informed us that Mr. Landor would be made to pass through
     Taklakot at night, and conveyed directly over the Lippu Pass. The
     Political Peshkar Kharak Sing Pal arrived in Taklakot that day
     from India, and we held a consultation. We agreed to keep a
     watchman in the road all night, but Mr. Landor did not go by. In
     the afternoon of the 8th, Mr. Landor and his two men arrived.
     They had been rifled of all they possessed and their clothes were
     torn and dirty. Mr. Landor and the two men looked very ill and
     suffering, Mr. Landor's face being hardly recognisable. He and
     his bearer Chanden Sing gave us an account of the tortures that
     had been inflicted upon them at Toxem and Galshio, and Mr. Landor
     showed the Peshkar Kharak Singh, Pundit Gobaria, myself and many
     Bhotiyas (Shokas) twenty-two wounds on his spine, feet and hands
     received from the Tibetans. Chanden Sing, who had been
     administered two hundred lashes, showed numerous black marks and
     open sores where the skin had been torn on both legs. From Lamas
     and soldiers who had been present at Mr. Landor's arrest and
     tortures I heard the following account.

     An ambush had been laid, and Mr. Landor and his bearer were
     caught by treachery when some hundred and fifty yards away from
     their tent, inside which were the rifles and revolver. They made
     a desperate resistance and fought for over fifteen minutes,
     struggling to get at their weapons. Thirty men were on Mr. Landor
     and twelve or fifteen held Chanden Sing, while four hundred
     soldiers armed with matchlocks and swords, and who had kept
     hidden behind sandhills, quickly surrounded them. They were
     tightly bound with ropes round the neck, chest, and legs, and the
     arms were pinioned behind their backs. Chanden Sing received two
     hundred lashes that same day. Mr. Landor and Mansing were taken
     to Galshio three days later. Ponies were provided for them,
     Mansing riding bare-back, while the wooden frame of a saddle was
     provided for Mr. Landor, the frame having several iron spikes
     sticking out of it in the back part of it. During the long ride
     to Galshio these nails produced several wounds on Mr. Landor's
     spine and back. Efforts were made, by means of a rope attached to
     his handcuffs, to pull him off the saddle and have him trodden to
     death by the hundreds of ponies of the Lamas, soldiers and
     officers that came full gallop behind. Moreover, two shots were
     fired at Mr. Landor. Mansing, unable to use his hands that were
     bound, fell many times off his steed and remained some two miles
     behind. When Galshio was reached Mr. Landor was pulled off his
     saddle, and they told him that his head would be cut off
     immediately. Dragged mercilessly by soldiers, he was taken to a
     wooden log. Here they stretched his legs wide apart, and his feet
     were made fast on the cutting edge of the log by means of tightly
     bound ropes that cut into his flesh. Then while an officer held
     him in a standing position by the hair of his head, a hot iron
     was passed in front of his eyes and a matchlock laid on his
     forehead and fired. Lastly, the head Lama approached with a long
     sword and swung it right and left close to Mr. Landor's neck, as
     if about to cut off the head. Mr. Landor remained composed and
     spoke no words. After some twenty minutes Mansing arrived, and
     was tied to the same log in front of Mr. Landor, and pretence was
     made to behead Mansing, Mr. Landor's face having been covered
     with a cloth. The Lamas professed to have been very astonished
     when, after having tied the prisoners' hands high up to poles
     behind them, Mr. Landor asked for some tzamba (oatmeal), meat
     and rice, and Mansing for some butter.

     The amazement of the Tibetans appears to have been even greater
     when food was brought and Mr. Landor and Mansing partook heartily
     of it and asked for more. Mr. Landor was kept chained to the log
     for twenty-four hours, Mansing twelve hours. When they were
     brought back to Toxem they found that Chanden Sing had been kept
     four days tied hands and feet to an upright post, and he had been
     given no food.

     At Taklakot, an officer (called Nerba) confessed in my own tent,
     and before Pundit Gobaria and the Political Peshkar Kharak Sing,
     that he himself had held Mr. Landor by the hair when he was
     about to be beheaded. He had also fired a shot at Mr. Landor,
     and had moreover been ordered by the Lamas to cut off Mr.
     Landor's toe and finger nails, as well as a lock of his hair. The
     Taklakot Lamas and the Tokchim Tarjum professed to be sorry at
     the Galshio Lamas having behaved in such a cruel manner.

     At Taklakot we made a list of Mr. Landor's property that was
     still missing, and we gave a copy to the Jong Pen and one to the
     Tokchim Tarjum, that they may try to recover what they can.

               (Signed) HARKUA WILSON,
                     Methodist Episcopal Mission.

    GUNGI BYAS BHOT, DARMA. Sept. 21, 1897.

DR. H. WILSON'S Certificate of A. HENRY SAVAGE LANDOR'S injuries and wounds

                         TAKLAKOT, TIBET, Sept. 8, 1897.

     I herewith certify that I have examined the wounds that Mr. A.
     Henry Savage Landor received during his imprisonment at Galshio
     in Tibet.

     There are five large sores along the spinal column and the
     spine itself has sustained severe injuries. At the time they were
     inflicted these wounds must have caused profuse bleeding.

     The feet bear the marks of cruel treatment. On the right foot are
     still well visible to-day (nineteen days after wounds were
     inflicted) six wounds, viz.—

    On the heel one wound one inch long;
    Outside ankle " half-inch long;
    Front of ankle " one inch long;
    Top of foot, three inches above the toes,
        one wound one and a-half inch long.
    Two small wounds on the upper part of foot.

     On the left foot the four wounds are of a very severe
     character, and were produced by ropes cutting into the flesh.

    One nasty wound above heel, two and a-half inches long.
    One wound below the ankle, one and one-fourth of an inch long.
    One wound three inches above the toes, two inches long.
    One wound on the heel, half an inch long.

     These wounds have caused the feet to be much swollen, the left
     foot especially having been considerably injured. Its strained
     tendons give still intense pain when touched and the foot is very
     heavy, inflamed and swollen.

     On the left hand there are five wounds.

    On middle finger a wound one inch long and deep to the bone.
    On root of middle finger, a wound half an inch long.
    On small finger, a wound one-fourth of an inch long.
    On third " " " "
    On first " " half an inch long.
    The four fingers are still very swollen.

     On the right hand there are only two wounds.

    The first, one half-inch long, on the upper side of the hand.
    The second, a quarter of an inch long on the second finger.

     Both hands are aching and much swollen, and the wounds upon them
     were evidently produced by the heavy iron chain of the handcuffs.

     On arrival at Taklakot (nineteen days after having been tortured)
     Mr. Landor is still suffering from strong fever caused by his
     wounds, and no doubt when they were fresh these must have given
     Mr. Landor intense pain. His health and strong constitution seem
     altogether shattered by the sufferings he has undergone.

     His face, hands and feet are very swollen, and he appears
     extremely weak; he himself attributed his great exhaustion to
     having been unable to sleep for nineteen consecutive nights on
     account of the bad sores on the spine and legs and because of the
     heavy iron chains with which he was laden.

                     H. WILSON,
           Hospital Assistant, Methodist Episcopal Mission.
    GUNGI BYAS BHOT, DARMA.

     N.B.—The numerous smaller wounds, burns, &c., on the face and
     body are not taken into account.

     A copy of this report was despatched from Dr. Wilson direct to
     the Deputy Commissioner, and was forwarded to the Government of
     India.

DR. H. WILSON'S Certificate of CHANDEN SING'S injuries.

                                 TAKLAKOT, Sept. 8, 1897.

     I herewith certify that I have examined Chanden Sing, Mr. A.
     Henry Savage Landor's servant who accompanied him to Tibet, where
     they were arrested and tortured. Chanden Sing has visible to this
     day on both his legs, and twenty-one days after they were
     inflicted, innumerable black marks produced by flogging. So
     severely appears the punishment to have been administered, that
     large patches of skin and flesh have been torn off by the
     lashing. Chanden Sing is now in very poor health, and it is
     evident by his appearance that he suffers greatly from the
     tortures and ill-treatment received at the hands of the Tibetans.

                     H. WILSON,
           Hospital Assistant, Methodist Episcopal Mission.
    GUNGI BYAS BHOT, DARMA.

A copy of this was sent by Dr. Wilson to the Deputy Commissioner at Almora, and was forwarded to the Government of India.

Certificate by MISS M. A. SHELDON, M.D., of the Methodist Episcopal Mission.

    M.E. MISSION,
        KHELA P.O. DIST. ALMORA.
      EAST KUMAON, BHOT.
    "All at it and always at it."—WESLEY.
                                                 Sept. 28, 1897.

     This is to certify that I have seen the wounds inflicted upon Mr.
     Landor by the Tibetans. It is now about forty days since he was
     bound and tortured. The wounds are healing well. The scars upon
     his hands caused by being bound with chains behind his back are
     plainly visible.

     The feet show even more clearly the results of inhuman binding
     and torture. The wounds have not yet entirely healed, and there
     is much discoloration. One foot is still swollen.

     I have not seen the wounds upon his spine inflicted by a
     torturing saddle, but he complains of much pain and soreness in
     that region.

                      (Signed) MARTHA A. SHELDON, M.D.

Certificate from DOCTOR TURCHINI, a Director of the Royal Hospital of S.M. Nuova, Florence, Italy.

D.D.

                             R. ARCISPEDALE DI S.M. NUOVA,
                                      GABINETTO
                                  ELETTRO-TERAPICO
                                      DIREZIONE,
                                       FIRENZE.

                                FIRENZE, 12 Febbraio, 1898.

     Il sottoscritto Medico Primario Direttore del Turno e Gabinetto
     elettro-terapico del R° Arcispedale di S. Maria Nuova dichiara
     quanto appresso: nel mese di Dicembre appena giunto in questa
     Città visitò il Sig^re Henry Savage Landor e lo trovô affetto=

     Da retinite all' occhio sinistro con suffusione dei mezzi
     trasparenti, e da grave iperemia retinica all' occhio destro.
     La vista era abolita a sinistra, diminuita a destra=

     La colonna vertebrale era dolente, se leggermente compressa con
     un dito, o se appena percossa col martello da percussione il
     dolore si faceva intenso, acuto specialmente nelle regioni
     lombare e dorsale. La deambulazione non era libera ma incerta, la
     funzionalità degli sfinteri molto difettosa per cui difficolta
     della mizione e delle evacuazioni.

     Presentava poi delle chiazze ecchimobili sopra-malleolari e
     sopra-carpiche. L'aspetto suo generale era di persona sofferente
     e molto anemica. Fatte le cure che il caso del Sig^re Landor
     reclamava, oggi 12 Febbraio notiamo; all' occhio destro risoluta
     la iperemia retinica, aumentato il campo visivo, occhio che serve
     discretamente alla sua funzione; all' occhio sinistro è molto
     turbata la circolazione endoculare e quivi la funzione visiva non
     è ristabilita; non vede gli oggetti e tutto gli fa confusione. La
     colonna vertebrale presenta sempre dei punti dolenti in specie al
     rigonfiamento sacro lombare. La deambulazione è più corretta, ma
     gli sarebbe impossibile fare una passeggiata lunga. La mizione e
     megliorata, non cosi la defacazione che è sempre difettosa per
     impotenza dello sfintere.

     Le condizioni generali sono megliorate, ma occorre pero al Sig^re
     Landor seguire la cura intrapresa, e specialmente la cura
     elettrica ed idroterapica.

             (Signed) DOTT. TURCHINI.

    COMUNE DI FIRENZE.
    OFFICIO D'IGIENE.
                                 Visto per la legalizzazione della
                                  firma del Sig. Dott. Turchini.
                                  Dal Municipio Firenze
    Lira Stamp. Li 12 Febbraio 1898.

                                                Il Sindaco.
                                           P.I.
                                                A. Artimini.

    Letter from the POLITICAL PESHKAR, KHARAK SING.

Private.
                                GARBYANG, BHOT,
                                   November 13, 1897.
MY DEAR MR. LANDOR,

     I hope that you have received my letter of some time ago and that
     you may be quite well now. Are you still at Almora? I have not
     yet got back your things from the Jong Pen, but I hear it is
     quite true that all your property reached Tokchim a long time
     ago. I have sent another letter to the Jong Pen, but cannot get
     an answer as the Lippu Pass is now closed owing to a heavy fall
     of snow yesterday. It is rumoured that a Tibetan officer is
     coming from Lhassa to Taklakot to inquire after your case, and
     probably he may have reached Taklakot yesterday, and after
     examining your things he will send them down to me. Now I have
     nearly finished my work at this place. I have collected the dues
     and paid them to the agents of the Jong Pen. I will go back to
     Chaudas the day after to-morrow—i.e., on the 15th of this
     month.

     With kind regards and hoping to hear from you soon.

                            I remain,
                                   Yours sincerely,
                                              KHARAK SING PAL.

    Letter from the POLITICAL PESHKAR, KHARAK SING PAL.

                                  HALDWANI, January 11, 1898.
MY DEAR MR. LANDOR,

     I hope that by this time you have reached safely home. I have
     been very anxious as I have not heard from you or of your safe
     arrival there. The dreadful day of the 8th of September is still
     vivid in my mind, when I first saw you at Taklakot (in Tibet)
     after you had been tortured by the Tibetans, and where I had come
     in search of you.

     I cannot forget your fearful appearance, with long hair and
     beard, and your face, body and limbs covered with wounds and
     bruises. When you arrived at Taklakot, in a few miserable rags
     stained with blood, dirty and swarming with lice, and surrounded
     by the guard of Tibetans, I could hardly believe it possible that
     it was you who stood before me, so much you had changed since I
     had last seen you.

     I am still deeply pained when I think of the pitiable condition
     you were in, when you showed me 22 (twenty-two) fresh wounds on
     your hands, feet and spine, without counting the injuries to your
     face. And indescribable pain gave us too seeing your confiscated
     baggage under seal of the Tibetan authorities, and to find it,
     when we opened it, to be full of broken or damaged instruments
     and other articles of your property.

     I think that you may remember my inquiry and consequent anger
     when the Tibetan officers and soldiers admitted their guilt of
     tying you by your limbs to the stretching log and of placing you
     on a spiked saddle; of removing forcibly your toe-nails and
     pulling you by the hair of your head. You know quite well that I
     had no power to do more than to report the matter to higher
     authorities, but I can assure you that it was to me quite
     unbearable to hear from the Tibetans that they had brought you to
     execution, and that they boasted of having swung the naked
     executioner's sword right and left of your neck, and that they
     had brought a red-hot iron close to your eyes to blind you.

     Your servants' condition, especially that of Chanden Sing, whom
     like yourself the Tibetans kept prisoner for twenty-four days,
     and who was given two hundred lashes, was pitiable beyond words.

     I am anxious to see the photographs taken by Dr. Wilson of you as
     you were when you arrived at Taklakot. I trust that by now you
     may feel better and that the pain in your spine may have
     altogether disappeared. I believe your rifles, revolver, ring,
     &c., which I succeeded in recovering from the Tibetans, must have
     reached you by now through the Deputy Commissioner at Almora. The
     cash and other articles have not been recovered, nor is there any
     probability of getting them back. Hoping to receive news of you
     soon and with best salaams,

    I am, yours most obediently,
                        K. KHARAK SING PAL,
                       Political Peshkar,
                    Garbyang Dharchula, Bhot.

    Letter from COLONEL GRIGG, Commissioner of Kumaon.

                       Commissionership of Kumaon.
                         Dated December 7, 1897.

MY DEAR LANDOR,

     Karak Sing reports that 2 guns (1 damaged), 1 revolver, 1
     signet-ring, cash 68/12/-, cartridges (gun) 110, ditto revolver
     37, cleaning-rods 2, gun-case 1, leather straps, 1
     butterfly-catcher, &c., have been handed to him by the Jong Pen
     of Taklakot, and he has requested Deputy Commissioner's orders.

     I am glad to hear your things are coming on. I hope you are
     getting stronger.

    With our kindest regards,
                    Yours very sincerely,
                                         E.E. GRIGG.

[NOTE BY THE AUTHOR.—This letter, as will be seen from the date, reached me after the bulk of the book had gone to press.]

A PRIVATE LETTER FROM J. LARKIN, ESQ., WHO, DEPUTED BY THE GOVERNMENT, PROCEEDED TO THE FRONTIER TO MAKE AN INQUIRY INTO MY CASE.

                            ALMORA, August 10, 1898.

MY DEAR LANDOR,

     Yours of the 21st ult. I am glad to hear that your book on your
     experiences in Tibet is nearly finished. I wish you may have
     every success with it, as it is only what you deserve after your
     trials and hardships in that difficult land of the
     ultra-conservative Lamas. I am not aware that the Indian papers
     are attacking you. However, they apparently do not get reliable
     information if they dispute the fact of your having entered
     Tibet. We who were in some way connected with your rescue and
     return have not been "interviewed," or we would give the
     authentic account of the affair.

     I was on a few days' leave at Naini Tal when I heard of your
     capture, tortures and expulsion from Tibet. I was deputed by the
     Government to proceed at once to the borders and make an inquiry
     into the affair. I set off at once, and I met you at Askot, where
     you were being looked after by the Rajbar. What a change in your
     appearance! When I saw you standing among some of the Askot
     natives I could with difficulty identify you. You were bronzed
     and weather-beaten to such an extent that you were not
     distinguishable from the natives. I do not think you can blame me
     for not recognising you readily. Your forehead, nose and the part
     of your face below your eyes were scarred, and helped to alter
     your appearance very greatly. You did surprise me when you told
     me that you would retrace your steps back to the borders on
     learning from me that I was hastening on to inquire into your
     case. I had then seen the twenty odd wounds you had on your face,
     wrists, feet and back. I strongly protested against your
     undertaking the fatiguing journey back across the perilous and
     arduous road, as I knew you needed rest and good nourishment, and
     thought it would be wisest for you to get back to Almora, and be
     under a good doctor.

     You, however, with your characteristic doggedness, meant to
     accompany me, and I must perforce let you. I was glad in the long
     run, for you enabled me to make a fuller inquiry than I would
     otherwise have been able.

     As you know, and as I reported to Government, I found after an
     inquiry on the borders that you had with great difficulty and
     manoeuvring succeeded in entering Tibet, evading the Jong Pen of
     Taklakot, and the Barca Tarjum at Gyanema, and crossing the
     Mariam La (Maium Pass) and getting as far as Tuksem (Toxem). You
     had been deserted by all the mountaineers who had started with
     you and who had promised to accompany you wherever you went. When
     you were left with the two Kumaonis, you were surrounded and
     captured by the Governor of that part of Tibet and his men.
     There, as a sequel to your innumerable fatigues, hardships,
     desertions, and privations, you and your two followers were
     ill-treated and tortured by the Governor. Have you not got a
     copy of my official report? I remember you told me you were
     applying for it. If you possess the copy, surely that will be
     sufficient to confound your traducers. I saw from the public
     papers that my report was to be laid on the table of the House of
     Commons by the Secretary of State for India.

     How did the photographs which we took up at the Lippu Pass turn
     out? I should particularly like to have the one of the group on
     the pass, and also the one where I am on horseback. I would also
     like to have the one I took of you having your matutinal bath
     when the water froze in your hair and on your body as it was
     thrown on you by Chanden Sing; and no wonder it did, as there
     were ten to twelve feet of snow lying about, and a hardy Bhotia
     (Shoka) mountaineer had only a few days prior to our arrival been
     lost in the snow on crossing the pass.

     Doubtless it will afford you some pleasure to learn that you have
     earned quite a reputation among the natives, both Tibetan and
     Bhotias (Shokas), on account of your universal cordiality,
     generosity and pluck. They are constantly inquiring about you,
     and relating your many good traits. Should you ever think of
     returning here you have made many friends, and you would get a
     very warm welcome from the natives.

     Dr. H. Wilson tells me that, when he took you over from your
     captors, the officials of Tibet, you were in a dying state, and
     that he only just got you in the nick of time. How are your eyes
     and spine? I trust they are quite well again. I look back with
     pleasure to my tour up to the border with you, and our return
     journey after your journey into Tibet proper, where you were
     subjected to tortures by the Governor of the district thereof.

       With every good wish,
                 Yours very sincerely,
                          (Signed) J. LARKIN.


Footnotes

[edit]
  1. Maium Pass.
  2. Galshio = Gyatsho.
  3. Bhutias = Shokas.
  4. Raja = King.
  5. N.B.—Reproductions of some of the photographs mentioned are given in this book.