'Volume II. MEMORANDA REGARDING OTHER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1905.' [‎103r] (210/228)

9
change in the programme would he made in
consequence of it. The Lama replied that no
change would he made.
The start took place on the 8th Nov
ember, the Lama taking with him a suite
of 350 persons and 830 animals. Captain
O’Connor was instructed to endeavour to
reduce this large party as much as possible
before leaving Chumbi and was told that the
number of followers to accompany the Lama
to Calcutta should not exceed 100.
The Lama’s progress partook of the
nature of a triumphal procession, the whole
population of Gyantse, Chumbi, and Darjeeling
(where he arrived on 29th November) turning
out to receive his blessing and to welcome him.
At Gyantse the Lama received another
letter from the Amban instructing him not
to proceed to India without leave from the
Chinese Emperor and threatening him with
disgrace if he did so.
The Lama told Captain O’Connor that
he did not intend to modify his plans in
consequence of the letter, and seemed only
afraid that the Chinese would bring influence
to bear upon the Indian Government to post
pone the date of the visit or even to cancel
the invitation. Captain O’Connor assured
him that, as the invitation had been issued, it
would not be cancelled.
Deports from Chumbi state that a
Chinese oflicial arrived there with orders for
the Lama from the Amban, three days after
the Lama had left the valley.
It has been arranged that the Lama
should first visit the Buddhist shrines near
Rawalpindi, where he will also see the review
of troops that has been arranged in honour of
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. He
will then proceed to Agra and visit the Buddhist
shrines at Sanchi Tope, Benares, and Gaya,
arriving in Calcutta on 23rd December.
9. (See paragraph 8 of Memorandum
for October 1905.) In a diary received on
20th November Captain O’Connor reported that
the Tashi Lama’s Minister had said that the
Lama would welcome the presence permanently
at Shigatse of a British officer and some sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. ,
whose charges he would gladly pay from
his own revenues. He also hinted that the
Lama would like a decoration (or “rank” as
the Tibetan word should be translated liter-
ally).
10. (See paragraph 1 of the Memoran
dum for September 1905.) A Memorandum
based upon the telegram, dated the 6th Sep
tember, from the Government of India, lias
been communicated by Lord Lansdowne to the
Russian Ambassador with reference to the
representations recently made by ins Govern-
I