'Volume II. MEMORANDA REGARDING OTHER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1905.' [‎92r] (188/228)

11
qz
His Britannic Majesty’s Consul-General,
1 un nan-fu, telegraphed on the 26th Septem
ber that the Chinese Imperial forces had
cap ured lungchulien, the head-quarters of
tiie insurrectionary movement, and that the
Viceroy had reported to the Chinese Govern
ment that the insurrection had been suppressed.
18. A correspondent stationed at Tachi-
enlu has from time to time supplied to JVir.
Gofte, His Majesty’s Consul-General at
L'hengtu, intelligence regarding the proceedings
or a suspicious character, whom he thinks is
a Russian spy.
Writing on the 3rd July the correspondent
said—“I was enquiring a little about the
Russian spy yesterday. They say he has a
passport and many documents (diaries
probably), and that he gets whatever silver he
needs from the Yamfm here. They say also
that he buys many Tibetan idols and
gives good prices for them. He can hardly
speak a word of Chinese and has an
interpreter with him”. And on the 24th
J uly—“ I have been told something about
the Russian spy here lately. I have not
got his name yet, but his skin is so white
I have wondered if he is not Russian or
half Russian. He seems very intelligent, has
been to Europe, knows all the Russian
Ministers in the different countries, and some
personally. He seems to have up-to-date in
formation, he speaks Erench, can read English,
and write Tibetan, and yet when you speak
to him, he pretends not to understand a word.
It was only when he got a bit excited that
he occasionally dropped a big English word,
which he pronounced with ease and most
correctly. He says he can neither speak
Chinese nor Tibetan, and yet the natives
say he seems to understand all that is said.
They say also that, when he converses with
strangers, he consults his maps, and tells
them all about their districts and asks
questions. He must have been in Kansuh,
for he asked about a missionary he knew up
there. I think, probably, among other things,
he is making maps of roads and districts, col
lecting information, and watching all develop
ment ”. On the 4th August, the correspondent
intimated that this individual was making
enquiries as to the best way of getting to
Bhamo, and thence to the coast, and con
cluded that he intended leaving the
neighbourhood.
19. (See paragraph 2 of the Memoran
dum for August 1905.) The British Trade
Agent at Gartok reported that the usual fair
was held there on the 15th September.
20. (See paragraph 6 of the Memorandum
for July 1905.) The Political Officer, Sikkim,
has received a letter from the Ti Rimpoche,
stating that he has sent instructions to Gartok
to the effect that, in accordance with the Tibet