File:Image from page 181 of "Travels of a consular officer in eastern Tibet - together with a history of the relations between China, Tibet and India" (1922).jpg

English: Identifier: cu31924089999209

Title: Travels of a consular officer in eastern Tibet : together with a history of the relations between China, Tibet and India Year: 1922 (1920s) Authors: Teichman, Eric, Sir, 1884-1944 Subjects: Publisher: Cambridge, England : University Press Contributing Library: Cornell University Library Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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Text Appearing Before Image: o pay any attention to Tibetanaffairs and have left the administration of the frontier districtsin the hands of a few military adventurers, who have mis-governed and oppressed the Tibetans of the regions undertheir control. As a result of years of tyrannous misrule,which has grown worse from year to year, scarcely a singlenative of Eastern Tibet, outside the staffs of the yamens, was tobe found when hostilities were resumed last year who did notpromptly desert the Chinese and welcome the advancing Lhasasoldiers as liberators. This was one of the principal reasonsfor the completeness and suddenness of the Chinese collapse. Over the Kalon Lamas residence, a small Tibetan house,floats the banner of Tibet, a yellow flag bearing a device likea Hon in green, with a white snow mountain and a sun andmoon in the corner. The Kalon Lama himself 1, who has beenat the head of the Tibetan army on the frontier for the pastfive or six years, is a middle-aged monk of commanding 1 See Plate XXXI. MAP 6

Text Appearing After Image: Ill THE SIEGE OF CHAMDO 117 appearance and. stature, with features showing great intel-ligence and refinement. He is at present absolute autocratof all the Tibetan-controlled parts of Kam, which he ad-ministers with efficiency and justice, and where he is uni-versally respected and obeyed without question^. The siege of Chamdo was a terrible tragedy for the Chinese,though a just retribution for the folly of their leaders in pro-voking a resumption of hostilities with the Tibetans. Oncethe investment was completed, the final surrender was onlya matter of time. The position, surrounded as it is on threesides by large rivers, is a strong one against an enemy un-provided with artillery; its weak side is the north, where thehills slope down to the ruined monastery behind the town.After the investment had been completed in February thefighting was mostly confined to these hills, the commandingpositions on which were stubbornly defended by the Chinese,only to be forced one by one by the Tibe

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