beral rate. The
Abbots failed to keep their promise, supplies were not forthcoming, and
it became necessary to resort to strong measures. An officer was sent to
the gate with an escort of three men and a letter saying that if the
provisions were not handed over within an hour we would break into the
monastery and take them, if necessary, by force. The messengers were met
by a crowd of excited Lamas, who refused to accept the letter, waved
them away, and rolled stones towards them menacingly, as an intimation
that they were prepared to fight. As the messengers rode away the tocsin
was heard, warning the villagers, women and children, who were gathered
outside with market produce, to depart.

General Macdonald with a strong force of British and native troops drew
up within 1,300 yards of the monastery, guns were trained on Depung, the
infantry were deployed, and we waited the expiration of the period of
grace intimated in the letter. An hour passed by, and it seemed as if
military operations were inevitable, when groups of monks came out with
a white flag, carrying baskets of eggs and a complimentary scarf.

Even in the face of this military display they began to temporize. They
bowed and chattered and protested in their usual futile manner, and
condescended so far as to say they would talk the matter over if we
retired at once, and send the supplies to our camp the next day, if they
came to a satisfactory decision. The Lamas are trained to wrangle and
dispute and defer and vacillate.[21] They seem to think that speech was
made only to evade conclusions. The curt ultimatum was repeated, and the
deputation was removed gently by two impassive sepoys, still chattering
like a flock of magpies.

[21] The highest degree which is conferred on the Lamas by their
Universities is the Rabs-jam-pa (verbally overflowing
endlessly).--Waddell, 'Lamaism in Tibet.'

In the meanwhile we sat and waited and smoked our pipes, and wondered if
there were going to be another Guru. It seemed the most difficult thing
in the world to save these poor fools from the effects of their
obstinate folly. The time-limit had nearly expired, the two batteries
were advanced 300 yards, the gunners took their sights again, and
trained the 10-pounders on the very centre of the monastery.

There were only five minutes more, and we were stirred, according to our
natures, by pity or exasperation or the swift primitive instinct for the
dramatic, w