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