the hierarchy, their
ruin would be equally certain. Ruin, in fact, faced them in any case.

The highest officials in Tibet visited Colonel Younghusband, expressed
their eagerness to see differences amicably settled, and, when asked to
arrange the simplest matter, said they were afraid to take on themselves
the responsibility. And this was not merely astute evasiveness. It was
really a fact that there was no one in Lhasa who dared commit himself by
an action or assurance of any kind.

Yet there existed some kind of irresponsible disorganized machine of
administration which sometimes arrived at a decision about matters of
the moment. The National Assembly was sufficiently of one mind to depose
and imprison the Ta Lama, the ecclesiastical member of Council. His
disgrace was due to his failure to persuade us to return to Gyantse.

The National Assembly held long sessions daily, and after more than a
week of discussion they began to realize that there was at least one aim
that was common to them all--that the English should be induced to leave
Lhasa. They then appointed accredited delegates, whose decisions, they
said, would be entirely binding on the Dalai Lama, should he come back.
The Dalai Lama had left his seal with Te Rinpoche, the acting regent,
but with no authority to use it.

The terms of the treaty were disclosed to the Amban, who communicated
them to the Tsong-du. The Tsong-du submitted the draft of their reply to
the Amban before it was presented to Colonel Younghusband. The first
reply of the Assembly to our demands ought to be preserved as a historic
epitome of national character. The indemnity, they said, ought to be
paid by us, and not by them. We had invaded their territory, and spoiled
their monasteries and lands, and should bear the cost. The question of
trade marts they were obstinately opposed to; but, provided we carried
out the other terms of the treaty to their satisfaction, they would
consider the advisability of conceding us a market at Rinchengong, a
mile and a half beyond the present one at Yatung. They would not be
prepared, however, to make this concession unless we undertook to pay
for what we purchased on the spot, to respect their women, and to
refrain from looting. Road-making they could not allow, as the blasting
and upheaval of soil offended their gods and brought trouble on the
neighbourhood. The telegraph-wire was against their customs, and
objectionable on religious grounds. With re