ior, with the intention of
commencing their work of conversion. From that time only uncertain
rumours were heard about them, but in May last, from the interior of
Mongol-Tartary, the news came that they had been tied to horses' tails,
and so dragged to death. The real causes of this event are not as yet
known."

Whilst they were thus announcing our death so positively, we were
approaching the termination of our long journey, and were close upon
Canton, happily enjoying a health fully capable of refuting the news thus
propagated concerning us. But if, by chance, we had perished among the
mountains of Thibet, if we had been murdered there, the world would have
remained convinced that we had been tied to horses' tails and had died in
Mongolia. It would probably have never been believed that we had reached
the capital of Thibet; and if, at some later time, some European
traveller had visited Lha-Ssa, and had been informed of our abode in that
town, it would have been, perhaps, just as difficult to reconcile these
statements, as those respecting Moorcroft. Although the death of the
English traveller is a matter which we cannot clear up, we did not
conceive that we could omit to say what we knew of it, without pretending
to invalidate, by the accounts collected at Lha-Ssa, the documents set
forth in the scientific London journals.

We were scarcely a month at Lha-Ssa before the numerous inhabitants of
this town grew accustomed to speak with respect and admiration of the
holy doctrine of Jehovah, and of the great kingdom of France. The peace
and tranquillity we enjoyed, the distinguished protection which the
Thibetian government extended to us, the sympathy with which the people
seemed to surround us, all inspired us with the hope, that, by the aid of
God, we might lay in the very capital of Buddhism the foundation of a
mission, the influence of which would soon extend itself among the nomad
tribes of Mongolia. The moment seemed to have come when the Tartar
pilgrims might at length learn, at Lha-Ssa, the only doctrine which can
save men's souls, and civilize nations.

As soon as we considered our position at Lha-Ssa confirmed, we turned our
thoughts to the means of renewing our communications with Europe in the
speediest manner. The path of the desert was impracticable. We had,
certainly, managed to cross once, and as it were by a miracle, these
steppes infested by brigands and wild beasts; but it was out of the
qu