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He further informed me that the road was closed between this and Usui, for he had just been fighting there, and had killed the chief Gomba, burnt down all his villages, and dispersed all the men in the jungle, where they now resided, plundering every man who passed that way. This gratuitous, wicked, humbugging terrifier helped to cause another defeat.
We took advantage of what we could see during those few seconds of light to steer our way toward Tucker Village and Gomba. The rivers, swollen by the rain, were extremely difficult to cross. The water seemed to flow so rapidly on the inclined bed that it was all we could do to keep on our feet.
If we could only obtain a sufficient quantity of food during the night, and proceed across country early the next day, there would be little danger of being overtaken by our pursuers. The Shokas were again shaking with fright at the idea of entering a Tibetan settlement. I told them firmly that we must reach Tucker Gomba and village that night. We had below us the two great lakes.
These particular Lamas are said to relish human blood, which they drink out of the cups made from men's skulls. When I left the Gomba my new friends, the Lamas, bowing down to the ground as I departed I walked about the village to examine all there was to be seen. Along the water's edge at the east end of the village stood in a row a number of tumbling-down Choktens of mud and stone.
Cingolo Ridge was meanwhile strongly occupied by the Infantry, whose line ran from its highest peak slantwise across the valley of the Gomba Stream to Hussar Hill, where it found its pivot in Barton's Brigade and the Artillery.
The whole party accompanied me three and a quarter miles farther, where in sight of the tumbling-down Panku Gomba, a mile to the west of us, we halted in order to make the necessary arrangements for our parting, unseen by the Tibetans. I took observations for latitude and longitude.
"Why, even on the Devil's Lake we had better weather than this." "Yes, sir," replied Kachi. "But you make the gods angry, and that is why they send thunder, hail, and rain to stop your progress. You are going on against the gods, sir." "Never mind, Kachi. It cannot pour forever." At midnight we had no idea where we were; still we pushed on. "Have we passed the Gomba?
This expedition incurred some loss of time, and when night came we were still on the ridge. From our camping-ground we saw fifteen black tents on the hillside. To the east, on the lake shore, there was a large Gomba, or Lamasery, with a temple and a number of mud houses.
I estimated the distance between ourselves and the Gomba at only eight miles, a cheering fact, because I hoped to get there fresh provisions that would enable us to proceed more rapidly on our journey. We were now quite out of reach of the Gyanema soldiers, as well as of such troublesome officials as the Barca Tarjum and the Jong Pen of Taklakot.
According to legend, Mansarowar was created by Brahma. He who shall bathe in its waters will share the paradise of Mahadeva! No matter what crimes he may have previously committed, a dip in the holy lake is sufficient to purge the soul as well as the body of any criminal! When they had finished purifying themselves by washing, I ordered Chanden Sing to take his rifle and follow me into the Gomba.
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