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New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVII, Issue 24, 15 December 1906, Page 22

Details of an extraordinary journey accomplished by Colonel C. D. Bruce, of the Chinese Regiment at Wei-hai-wci, and Captain Layard, of the Northamptonshire Regiment, are published by the “North China Herald.”

Starting from Simla in August 1905. the two officers made their way to Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir, and from their cast to Leh, the last outpost of British rule. Thence they penetrated to Tibet over three mountain passes:—Chaugla, 17,600 ft; Marsemikla, 18,420 ft; and Lanakla, 18,100 ft. On the second, on September 8, they met a British officer on a shooting excursion. He was the last European they were to see for six months.

For six weeks they wandered in the desolate regions south of the Kttenhin Mountains without seeing a human being dr a sign of human habitation. The thirty-live miles oyer the Kuen-lun range’ tffbk them five "days to accomplish.' North of the range they sAw abundant traces of gold, and foiiiul’tlio people,' chiefly MahoirirtiedAiis, jfricjidly.

The great Gobi Desert crossed., by an entirely new route from Charkoliek, near which lies Lake. Lobnor, “a huge expanse of water, extremely- shallow, with a constantly shifting position.” Tire- Englishmen crossed the. waste at a season and by a route no white man and probably no native has ever attempted. ,

After a journey of 3500 miles the adventurous officers ultimately, arrived in safetv at Pekin and Wei-hai-wci.