efuse even to
receive our communications. Still less do we think that when an
amicable conference has been arranged for the settlement of these
difficulties we should acquiesce in our mission being boycotted
by the very persons who have been deputed to meet it, our
officers insulted, our subjects arrested and ill-used, and our
authority despised by a petty Power which only mistakes our
forbearance for weakness, and which thinks that by an attitude of
obstinate inertia it can once again compel us, as it has done in
the past, to desist from our intentions.'

In the face of the gross and deliberate affront to which we had been
subjected at Khamba Jong it was now, of course, impossible to withdraw
from Tibetan territory until we had impressed on the Lamas the necessity
of meeting us in a reasonable spirit. It was clear that the Tibetans
meant fighting, and the escort had to be increased to 2,500 men. The
patience of Government was at last exhausted, and it was decided that
the mission was to proceed into Tibet, dictate terms to the Lamas, and,
if necessary, enforce compliance. The advance to Gyantse was sanctioned
in the first place. But it was quite expected that the obstinacy of the
Tibetans would make it necessary to push on to Lhasa.

Colonel Younghusband crossed the Jelap la into Tibet on December 13,
meeting with no opposition. Phari Jong was reached on the 20th, and the
fort surrendered without a shot being fired. Thence the mission
proceeded on January 7 across the Tang Pass, and took up its quarters on
the cold, wind-swept plateau of Tuna, at an elevation of 15,300 feet.
Here it remained for three months, while preparations were being made
for an advance in the spring. Four companies of the 23rd Pioneers, a
machine-gun section of the Norfolk Regiment, and twenty Madras sappers,
were left to garrison the place, and General Macdonald, with the
remainder of the force, returned to Chumbi for winter quarters. Chumbi
(10,060 feet) is well within the wood belt, but even here the
thermometer falls to 15 deg. below zero.

A more miserable place to winter in than Tuna cannot be imagined. But
for political reasons, it was inadvisable that the mission should spend
the winter in the Chumbi Valley, which is not geographically a part of
Tibet proper. A retrograde movement from Khamba Jong to Chumbi would be
interpreted by the Tibetans as a sign of yielding, and strengthen th