. We did the best we could by doling out an extra pound of
grain per animal, which was issued, after a long soaking, in small
quantities at frequent intervals. This helped to fill the gaps left by
the lack of fodder. A weed resembling vetch with a small purple flower
grew on the hillside. We also cut some of this and gave it to the mules,
who ate some of it, but on the whole preferred any loose ends of their
next-door neighbours' jules or blankets. There was a great deal of
woollen texture consumed that night, and some of the jules were a sorry
sight in the morning.

The noise made at night by hungry mules who have no fodder is very
distressing. That night they kept up a constant complaining.

CHAPTER XIV

NAGARTSE: ENVOYS: DEMOLITIONS: BATHS: BOILING WATER

Next day we reached Nagartse. This is a village surmounted by a jong
which is perched at the end of a rocky ridge which runs from higher
hills close down to a corner of the Lake Palti. There is one monastery
inside the jong itself, and another on the hillside close by. There was
a belt of standing crops close to the jong which were more advanced than
those on the other side of the Karo-La. On the whole we appeared to have
reached something of an oasis. If the enemy had decided to make a stand
against us here, we should have had very little difficulty in ousting
them. It would have been quite easy to send our mountain guns up on to
the ridge above the jong, and a very few shells from that position would
have probably secured a speedy evacuation. As a matter of fact, after a
little parleying, they decided to evacuate, and we were to be free of
the jong and all it contained, while of course we respected all property
of theirs that pertained to religion.

From here onwards we were constantly met by deputations of envoys. The
sight, which first of all used greatly to tickle the fancy, of important
Tibetan personages under bright umbrellas and riding splendid mules
splendidly caparisoned, and led by servants in gorgeous liveries, soon
grew quite common. At every point of any importance along the line of
our advance, this or a similar cavalcade would come hurrying up. What
exactly used to take place at the interviews which followed, I am not
privileged to know, but apparently fresh reasons were advanced on each
occasion for our not going further on our way to Lhassa, and fresh
specious promises of considering our demands in a conciliatory though
vague spirit w