1936 - 1937 Mission Diary
The official diary of the Gould mission to Lhasa sent by the British government. Read more about the mission diary.
September 29th, Tuesday.
Today we received a call from the King of Lhadu and his leading subject. The King is one of several small chieftains of Eastern Tibet who have been gradually subdued by the Tibetan Government. He rules a population of about 1,000 herdsmen. He has a large goitre but declined offers of treatment on the grounds that he must consult the lamas. According to his account the Communist invasion of Eastern Tibet failed by reason of the prayers of the monasteries as a result of which the Chinese 'Reds' were afflicted with dysentery. The King who holds the title of Teji by the Tibetan Government, had come to visit the tomb of the late Dalai Lama. The reason for his call on the Political Officer was that he wanted to be on friendly terms with the representatives of other powers. His companion was a cheerful, monk who has travelled a bit and visited Kalimpong and Darjeeling.
The Prime Minister came to lunch with us. He showed considerable interest in the wireless and a message was transmitted, on his behalf, to the Chief of Signals, Jubbulpore.
Author: Hugh Richardson [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 VII p.1
Enlarge