mpanies of the 32nd Pioneers,
under Colonel Brander; four companies of the 8th Gurkhas, under Major
Row; the 1st Mounted Infantry, under Captain Ottley; and the machine-gun
section of the Norfolks, under Lieutenant Hadow. Mention should also be
made of the two 7-pounder mountain-guns attached to the 8th Gurkhas,
under the command of Captain Luke.

Before the General left for Chumbi he decided to evacuate the jong. The
grounds on which this decision was come to were that the whole place was
in a ruinous and dangerous condition, the surroundings were insanitary,
there was only one building fit for human habitation, the water-supply
was bad and deficient, and there seemed to be no prospect of further
hostilities. Besides, from the military point of view there was some
risk in splitting up the small guard to be left behind between the jong
and the mission post. However, the precaution was taken of further
dismantling the jong. The gateways and such portions as seemed capable
of lending themselves to defence were blown up.

The house, or, rather, group of houses, rented by Colonel Younghusband
for the mission was situated about 100 yards from a well-made stone
bridge over the river. A beautiful grove, mostly of willow, extended
behind the post along the banks of the river to a distance of about 500
yards. The jong lay about 1,800 yards to the right front. There were two
houses in the intervening space, built amongst fields of iris and
barley. Small groups of trees were dotted here and there. Altogether,
the post was located in a spot as pleasant as one could hope to find in
Tibet.

For some days before the General left, all the troops were engaged in
putting the post in a state of defence. It was found that the force to
be left behind could be easily located within the perimeter of a wall
built round the group of houses. There was no room, however, for 200
mules and their drivers, needed for convoy purposes. These were placed
in a kind of hornwork thrown out to the right front.

After the departure of the General we resigned ourselves to what we
conceived would be a monotonous stay at Gyantse of two or three months,
pending the signing of the treaty. The people continued to be perfectly
friendly. A market was established outside the post, to which
practically the whole bazaar from Gyantse town was removed. We were able
to buy in the market, very cheap, the famous Gyantse carpets, for which
enormous prices are demanded at