FORBIDDEN LAND

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1930, Page 26

FORBIDDEN LAND

INTERIOR OF TIBET

FAMOUS EXPEDITION

MYSTEBIOUK CITI

Most distinguislio.il of visitors to reach Canada this year (according to] the Toronto "Star") is Sir Francis! Younghusbaud, X.C.5.1., K.C.1.E., C.1.E., | gold medallist of tho Royal Ccographical Society's, Kaisar-a-Hiud medallist, j LL.D-, oC Edinburgh, D.Si-.. of Cam-| bridge, Redo Lecturer at Cambridge, | soldier, diplomatist, author, explorer, and past-prcsiilciit of tho British Geographical Society. A little man, short, slightly stooped, with a ruddy face and drooping white moustache, Sir Francis I is a perfect representative of that An-glo-Indian type of soldier and explorer depicted by X M. Forster in his "A Passage to India." lie has been everywhere, scon everything in tho British Empire; explored the outposts of India .and Manchuria; journeyed all over Turkestan; was "The Times V correspondent with the C'hirrnl expedition of 1595; travailed through tlio jungles of Rhodesia and lived in tho Transvaal: and was British Commissioner to Tibet during 1902-4. Renowcd as explorer, ranking with Hudson and Car tier and Vancouver, with Mackenzie and la Veronclrye and Eraser, Younghusband's principal claim to fame rests upon his extraordinary expedition to Tibet in 1903. lip was tho first white man to enter and return alive from the "Forbidden City" of Lhasa in Tibet, that romantic, and mysterious country beyond the Himalayas, a vast inhabited tableland 'lying at_ a . much higher elevation than the dizziest peaks in tho Canadian Rockies, and bordering India for a thousand miles. DIFFICULT COMMISSION. The story of that expedition-, told by Younghusb.'UKl to the newly-formed Canadian Geographical Society, makes an epic of high- courage and romance. It was away back in tho days when Lord Curzon, with all his pomp and circumstance, was in India, and when Britain was still under the spell of tho Imperialism of the Boer War and the jingoism of Mr. Kipling. Tho Tibetans, for a reason not understood, declined to permit Indians to enter their country; thsir regent was in communication with tho Tsar; there was British fear of the oici bugbear of a Russian invasion. Yi-mighusbavid, then with the political department of the Indian Government, and a soldier ami explorer of experience, was commissioned by Curzon to go to the Tibetan country, discover the reasons underlying the action of the Tibetans, report back to him. There was some months' delay, failure to get into touch with the Tibetan capital, increased uneasiness in India.' So on 9th December, 1903, Younghusband set out at the head of 2000 men, mostly Indians, to invade the Tibetan country and adjust differences with them. To do this, it was necessary to scale the Himalayas, the most accessible pass of .-which was 15,000 feet above sea level. Younghusbaud led his force through this pass in the heart of winter, throuhg driving blizzards and snowfalls, passed glaciers, and through deep snow, and with the temperature hovering around 17 below zero. The Indian troops were,mostly from, the sun-baked Indian plains, unused to cold. But notwithstanding that tho expedition was often without adequate fuel, was compelled to sleep in tents, and sometimes lacked good food, this necessitating terrible hardships and suffering, it succeeded in making its desperate marches through the Himalayas. Arrived there, Younghusband's force encountered the outposts of the Tibetan army. There were more weeks of dolay during which Younghusband sought in vain to °\it into communication with the Tibetan leaders. Finally, exasperated at the less of time, Younghusband set out from his camp accompanied by a single officer, a Captain O 'Connor, made his way to. the Tibetan lines, passed their outposts, and confronted the Tibetan generals. Then followed an extraordinary scene. Some of tho Tibetans rlecidecl to prevent Younghusband returning to his own lines; it was only after a show of cold courage on the part of himself and his officer that prevented his detention; and ho ■was finally permitted to depart, heartily cursed by some of the Tibetan monks and admonished to return to his own country. HOSTILITIES COMMENCE. Two days later, tho British forces led by Younghusband appeared before the Tibetan lines. , Word was sent to the Tibetan general that inasmuch as they refused to negotiate with the British and declined to send representation to their rulers at Lhasa, it had been decided to p;o direct to the "Forbidden City." The Tibetans drew up in a square; one of their number fired a revolver into the British ranks; there was a blazo of British musketry, and 300 Tibetans fell. The outcome was a treaty signed in the Tibetan capital under which the Indians were at last permitted to go into Tibet and be guaranteed protection, and the long-mysterious city, whence no white man had ever returned alive, became thereafter, well known to travellers from the outside world. Tho regent of Tibet discontinued his advancos to the Russian Tsar; friendly intercourse was opened with the Indian Viceroy; and tho Tibetans became the firm friends and allies (as they were in tho Groat War) of the British Government. Yonnghusband was honoured.' by Cury.on, acclaimed by -the wholo Empire, and a Union Jack which he carried at the head of h:,-. expedition to Lhasa was brought to England and placed over tho ■statue of. Queen Victoria in Windsor Castle. Younghusband told this story with less emotion than ho might exhibit if dissatisfied with the quality of the port, in the Travellers' Club. Ho is, in fact, the least -martial-looking of men; and it is an extraordinary sidelight upon the character of this unique and world famous man iliat lie has written widely upon religious as well as vipou geographical, exploration and military matters. His "Within" and ""The Gleam" arc well-known works of desp philosophy and piety.