1936 - 1937 Mission Diary

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

14th August, Friday, Gyantse (Halt)

see photographs below

Although halted, most of us had a fairly busy day. Neame was out at 6-30 A.M. taking photographs, to get the good morning light and B. J. Gould was receiving visitors before breakfast; all of whom had to be regaled with tea and biscuits. After breakfast more visitors, including, the Abbott of the local Gompa, were dealt with, until at 10 A.M. Gould, Neame and Chapman went to the town to return the call of the Nepalese representative and the Tibetan Trade Agent, or Khenchung. The latter now lives in what used to be the Tibetan Government School under Ludlow.

After this we all went to the British Trade Agent's post, where a most interesting race meeting and sports were organized. Local Bhotia ponies raced, including a ‘pacing’ race, in which only one out of seven ponies kept its "pace" and won. The others all broke into a canter or gallop. A yak and cow race caused great enthusiasm and the favourite won. Tent pegging by the Mounted Infantry of the 2/1 Rajput Regiment and prize giving were followed by a stupendous luncheon. party to all the local notabi-lities, in which quantities of "Chang" (Tibetan beer), gin, and sweet liqueurs were consumed. The crowd of Tibetan villagers were most enthusiastic and got very happy on quite small quantities of "Chang".

During the afternoon and evening Chapman, Nepean and Dagg assisted by Norbhu tested the cine apparatus, and examined numerous films to see their suitability for Tibetan audiences.

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.1