ent. 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.