1936 - 1937 Mission Diary

The official diary of the Gould mission to Lhasa sent by the British government. Read more about the mission diary.

19th August, Wednesday, Nang-Kar-tse camp.

see photographs below

1.4,500 ft. 1.4 miles.

A rather grim breakfast out of doors (the tent havink been struck over night) with a temperature of 371F and a biting wind was followed by a hasty evacuation of this camp. The clouds were thlick and heavy over the Karo La and we had little view of the snow peaks which surrounded us. An easy downhill march brought us to the Nang-Kar-tse plain across which lies Nang-Kar-tse Jong and the Yamdrok-Tso a great lake 2 or 3 miles broad and 45 miles in circumference, running in a great curve round the plain.

Gould was met by the Jongpens of Nang-Kar-tse, who later brought the usual presents of eggs etc. They were in turn entertained to tea in our mess tent, already erected prior to our arrival.

There are a lot of very tame "wild birds" here, ravens, bar headed geese, pigeons etc., which allow one to go up within a few yards of them.

The Jong appears to be in very good repair, different from most of the old Tibetan buildings.

There is an interesting Gompa (Sumding) 3 or 4 miles from here, which has the distinction of having as abbess the only female incarnation in Tibet.

About 3-30 P.m. it began thunder as usual followed by a sharp shower of rain. It undoubtedly pays to march early and get into camp by midday at this time of year. We always have ‘reveille’, i.e., chota hazri at 5 A.M. breakfast at 6 A.m. and March at 7 A.M. or before.

There are large numbers of duck and geese of many varieties on the Yamdrok Tso; also some new and interesting flowers were found.

Author: Philip Neame [see handwritten annotations in Diary by Hugh Richardson in MS. Or. Richardson 2, Bodleian Libary, Department of Oriental Collections, University of Oxford]

Page Reference: Pt III p.4