In the Forbidden Land Part 34

[Ill.u.s.tration: FLINT-AND-STEEL POUCH]

He told me that large quant.i.ties of these weapons were manufactured at Lha.s.sa and Sigatz (s.h.i.+gatze), and he stated that the majority of Tibetan men outside the towns possess one. Gunpowder was also made with saltpetre and sulphur found in the country.

The Rupun, seeing how quick I was at picking up words, took a special delight in teaching me, as one would a child, the names of the several grades in the Tibetan army. The _Tchu-pun_[29] was the lowest grade, and only had ten men under him; then came the _Kiatsamba-pun_ or _Kia-pun_,[30] or officer in command of one hundred soldiers; and the _Tung-pun_,[31] or head of one thousand. These officers, however, are seldom allowed the full complement of soldiers according to their grade, and very often the "commander of one thousand" has only under him three or four hundred men at the most. Above the _Tung-pun_ comes the _Rupun_, a kind of adjutant-general; then the _Dah-pun_, or great officer; and highest of all, the _Mag-pun_ (or _Mag-bun_, as it is usually p.r.o.nounced), the general in chief.

The acquaintance of one of these generals we had already made at Gyanema.

Though my informant said that officers are elected for their bravery in time of war and for their strength and apt.i.tude in the saddle and with their weapons, I knew well enough that such was not the case. The posts are mainly given to whoever can afford to pay most for them, and to men of families under special protection of the Lamas. In many cases they are actually sold by auction.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LEATHER HORSE-WHIP]

The method described by the Rupun was nevertheless what is popularly believed by the ma.s.ses of Tibet to be the way in which military officers are chosen.

[29] _Tchu_, ten, _pun_, officer, or officer of ten men.

[30] _Kiatsamba_ or _Kia_ = one hundred.

[31] _Tung_ = one thousand.

CHAPTER LXXIX

Sarcasm appreciated--Kindness--A change for the worse--The place for an Englishman--Vermin--A Tibetan prayer.

THE Rupun possessed a good deal of dry humour, and I told him how fast the Tibetan soldiers had run away on previous occasions when I had met them and had my rifle by me. But he was quite equal to the situation and exclaimed: "Yes, I know that they ran, but it was not through fear. It was because they did not wish to hurt you." Upon which I answered that, if that were the case, they need not have run so fast.

The Rupun seemed amused and laughed at my sarcasm. He patted me on the back and said I was right. He professed to be grieved to see me tied up, and said he had received strict orders not to give me food or unloose my bonds.

[Ill.u.s.tration: CHARM-BOX]

The soldiers, who had been listening open-mouthed to the affable and friendly conversation between the Rupun and myself, a practice not common in Tibet between captor and prisoner, followed their chief's example, and from being harsh and rough, turned quite kindly and respectful. They placed a cus.h.i.+on under me and tried to make me as comfortable as they could in the circ.u.mstances.

Towards the evening, however, the Rupun was summoned before the Pombo, and the guard was relieved by a fresh lot of men. This was a change for the worse. Their manner was extremely rough, and they dragged me away from the dignified seat I had occupied in the place of honour in the tent, and knocked me violently down on a heap of dung which they used for fuel.

"That is the place for _plenkis!_" shouted one of the men, "not in the best part of the tent."

They pounced upon me roughly, and though I made no resistance whatever, they again tied my feet together, and another rope was fastened round my knees. The ends of these ropes were left long, and each was given in charge of a soldier.

No part of a Tibetan tent is over clean, but the spot where I was to rest for the night was the dirtiest. Bound so tightly that the ropes cut channels in my flesh, it was out of the question to sleep; but tenfold worse than this was the disgusting fact that I soon got covered with vermin, which swarmed in the tent. From this time till the end of my captivity, or twenty-five days later, I suffered unspeakable tortures from this pest. The guards, with their swords drawn, were all round me inside the tent, and others were posted outside.

The night was full of strange events. Shouts could be heard at intervals from a distance outside, and some one of the guard in the tent answered them. They were to keep the men awake and make sure that I was still there. One of the soldiers in the tent revolved his prayer-wheel, muttering the following prayer so often that I learned it by heart:

Sangbo, sangbo Yabni namla dupchenche Yumni sala lockchendir Las.h.i.+n shukpi Kani san Pas.h.i.+n tagpe Kani san Yulo parba palui san Tumlo parba wumboi san La.s.san lussan tamjeh san Chedan Kordan jindan san Takpeh yeiki polloh san Takpeh yonki molloh san Tzurzu Kaghi Tablah san Arah, Banza, Natt.i.tti Jehmi jangla changzalu.

The almost literal translation of the words is this:

Oh, my G.o.d, I confess That my father has gone to heaven, But my mother is at present alive (_lit._ in the house).

First my mother sinned And you took all men to heaven, Then my mother and father sinned and I will go to heaven.

If all other men and I sin, and we withdraw our sins, We are all liable to sin and the wumboo wood absolves (_lit._ washes all) from all sins.

On the North-west (La.s.san) and South-east (Lussan) are the two ways to heaven.

I read the holy book and purify myself, My arm-bone[32] is the sacred bone (_lit._ G.o.d's bone).

And the sign of manhood my left arm.

Oh, my G.o.d, who art above my head, And at the sacred Kujernath, Banzah and Natt.i.tti I pray every day for health and wealth (silver and gold).

[32] The Tibetans believe that in men the left, and in women the right, arm belongs to G.o.d. They regard it as sacred, because with this arm food is conveyed to the mouth, thus giving life to the body, and also because it is with the arms that one can defend oneself against one's enemies.

The bone of the nose is also regarded as sacred.

CHAPTER Lx.x.x

The Rupun as a friend--Treated with respect and deference--Fed by the Rupun and soldiers--Improving my knowledge of Tibetan.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PUKU, OR WOODEN CUP]

IN the middle of the night the Rupun returned. I noticed he seemed very much upset. He sat by my side, and by the light of the flickering fire and a wick burning in a bra.s.s bowl filled with b.u.t.ter, I could see in his face an expression of great anxiety. I felt, by the compa.s.sionate way in which he looked at me, that he had grave news to give me. I was not mistaken. He moved me from the pestilent place where I had been thrown down helpless by the soldiers, and laid me in a more comfortable and cleaner part of the tent. Then he ordered a soldier to bring me a blanket. Next, to my astonishment, he became very severe, and said he must examine my bonds. He turned quite angry, scolding the soldiers for leaving me so insecurely tied, and proceeded to make the knots firmer, a thing which I felt was impossible. Though he pretended to use all his strength in doing this, I found, much to my amazement, that my bonds were really becoming loosened. He then quickly covered me up with the heavy blanket.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PUKU, OR WOODEN CUP]

The soldiers were at the other end of the large tent, and seemed occupied with a loud argument over some paltry matter. The Rupun, stooping low, and making pretence to tuck me in the blanket, whispered:

"Your head is to be cut off to-morrow. Escape to-night. There are no soldiers outside."

The good man was actually preparing everything for my flight. He put out the light, and came to sleep by my side. It would have been comparatively easy, when all the men had fallen asleep, to slip from under the tent and steal away. I had got my hands easily out of the ropes, and should have had no difficulty in undoing all my other bonds; but the thought that I should be leaving my two men at the mercy of the Tibetans prevented my carrying the escape into effect. The Rupun, having risen to see that the guard were asleep, lay down again close to me and murmured:

"_Nelon, nelon; palad[)o]_" ("They are asleep; go").

Well meant and tempting as the offer was, I told him I must stay with my men.

Having my hands free, I managed to sleep a little during the night; and when the morning came I slipped my hands again inside the ropes.

The Rupun, who seemed much disappointed, tied the ropes round my wrists firmly again, and, though he appeared rather vexed at my not having availed myself of the chance of flight he had given me, he treated me with ever-increasing respect and deference. He even produced his _puku_ (wooden bowl), which he filled with steaming tea from the _raksang_,[33]

and lifted it up to my mouth for me to drink.

On perceiving how thirsty and hungry I was, not only did this good man refill the cup time after time until my thirst was quenched, but he mixed with it _tsamba_, and lumps of b.u.t.ter, which he then stuffed into my mouth with his fingers.

It was really touching to see how, moved to kindness, the soldiers imitated his example, and, one after the other, produced handfuls of _tsamba_ and _chura_, and deposited them in my mouth. Their hands, it is true, were not over clean, but on such occasions it does not do to be too particular, and I was so hungry that the food they gave me seemed delicious. I had been for two nights and one day without food, and, what with the exertion of the fight and my various exciting experiences, my appet.i.te was very keen.

This great politeness, however, and the sympathy with which not only the Rupun, but even the soldiers treated me now, made me suspect that my end was indeed near. I was grieved not to be able to obtain news of Chanden Sing and Mansing; and the soldiers' reticence in answering questions regarding them made me fear that something awful had happened.

Nevertheless, though my gaolers were friendly, I did not betray any anxiety, but pretended to take all that came as a matter of course. I spent the first portion of the day in a lively conversation with the soldiers, partly to divert my thoughts and partly to improve my knowledge of Tibetan.

[33] _Raksang_, a vessel in which tea mixed with b.u.t.ter and salt is kept boiling over the fire.