File 1855/1904 Pt 4 'Koweit:- Loans to Sheikh.' [‎117v] (234/242)

TIBET.
31. On tbe 1st May, a reconnoitring
party reported that they had located from 1,000
to 1,500 Tibetans in an entrenched position 43
miles from Gyantse on the far side of the Karo
La. The enemy had opened fire, but had hit
none of our men, who retired. In view of the
threat involved to the line of communications
with Phari, Colonel Brander considered it
advisable to move out with a force of 300
rifles, and on the 6th successfully cleared the
Tibetan force, which in the meantime had
grown to one of 2,500 men, headed by influen
tial Lhasa Lamas and officials. Our loss was
4 killed and 14 wounded, among the former
being Captain Bethune. The enemy held a
strong position and fought stubbornly. Their
loss was not accurately ascertained. Their
camp and baggage were captured ; a number
of large tents, quantities of rations, gunpowder,
and arms, and hundreds of maunds of blankets,
cloaks, and clothing were burnt or destroyed.
The new monk member of the Tibetan Council,
who was previously supposed to be on his
way to negotiate, was found actually to have
been collecting troops at Nagartse. The column
arrived back at Gyantse on the 9th May.
32. In the meantime, the Mission Camp
at Gyantse had been attacked at dawn on the
5th May by a force of 700 Tibetans from
Shigatse, commanded by a Lhasa General,
and accompanied by clerks of the Dalai Lama
and representatives of the Gaden Monastery.
The attack, which lasted two hours, was
repulsed with considerable loss to the enemy,
who left 250 killed and wounded near the post.
Our casualties were two wounded. General
Ma, it was said, knew of the intended attack,
but gave no warning. Captain Parr’s Chinese
guards, who were in the town, were beaten,
and his two Bbutia servants were brutally
murdered, their limbs being hacked off one
by one. Some Mission servants who were
spending the night in the town were also
murdered. It is believed that General Ma
could have saved Captain Parr’s servants, but
took no action.
33. The assault having failed, the enemy
proceeded to maintain from the Jong hill, dis
tant about 1,400 yards, an accurate fire
with jingals and modern rifles to which our
7-pounders were unable to reply effectively.
On the morning of the 8th, a large number of
mounted reinforcements arrived from the
Shigatse direction. The same day a reconnais
sance in force was made to clear the surround
ing country, and a small loss was inflicted on
the enemy without casualties on our side.
34. On the 10th, Colonel Brander again
reconnoitred the enemy’s position, and destroy
ed a village threatening our right, but found