the ridge, the Tibetans slinging
and throwing stones when they found they could not load their muskets
quickly enough. But as the Gurkhas would not be stopped, the Tibetans
had to move. In the meanwhile the Pathans worked through the monastery
below, only meeting with small resistance from a band of men in one
house. The Tibetans fled in a mass over the right edge of the ridge into
the jaws of the mounted infantry lying in wait below. Slaughter
followed.

It was now quite dark, and the troops made their way back to camp. Next
morning a party went up to Tsechen, found it entirely deserted, and set
fire to it. The taking of the monastery cost us the lives of Captain
Craster, 40th Pathans, and two sepoys. Our wounded numbered ten,
including Captains Bliss and Humphreys, 8th Gurkhas.

On July 1 the General intended assaulting the jong, but in the interval
the jong Commandant sent in a flag of truce. He prayed for an armistice
pending the arrival of three delegates who were posting down from Lhasa
with instructions to make peace. As Colonel Younghusband had been
directed to lose no opportunity of bringing affairs to an end at
Gyantse, the armistice was granted, and two days afterwards the
delegates, all Lamas, were received in open durbar in a large room in
the mission post. Colonel Younghusband, after having satisfied himself
that the delegates possessed proper credentials, made them a speech. He
reviewed the history of the mission, pointing out that we had only come
to Gyantse because of the obstinacy and evasion of the Tibetan
officials, who could easily have treated with us at Khamba Jong and
again at Tuna, had they cared to. We were perfectly willing to come to
terms here, and it rested with the peace delegates whether we went on to
Lhasa or not. Younghusband then informed the delegates that he was
prepared to open negociations on the next day. The delegates were due at
eleven next morning, but they did not put in an appearance till three.
They were then told that as a preliminary they must surrender the jong
by noon on the succeeding day. They demurred a great deal, but the
Commissioner was quite firm, and they went away downcast, with the
assurance that if the jong was not surrendered we should take it by
force. Younghusband, however, added that after the capture of the fort
he was perfectly willing to open negociations again.

Next day, shortly after noon, a signal gun was fired to indicate that
the armistice was