Three years in Tibet : with the original Japanese illustrations / by the Shramana Ekai Kawaguchi.

  • Ekai Kawaguchi
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Three years in Tibet : with the original Japanese illustrations / by the Shramana Ekai Kawaguchi. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    53/772 (page 23)
    LAYINO A FALSK SCENT. Tlio decision made, it would have been all I could Avish for, if it were ])ossil)le for nie to journey to Nej)rd direct from Darjeeling-; there was on the way grand and picturesque scenery incidentally to enjoy, besides places sacred to Buddhist pilgrims. But to do so was not possible for me, or at least implied serious dangers. For most of the Tibetans living in Darjeeling—and there were ([uite a number of them there—knew that I Avas learning their language Avith the intention of some day visiting their country; and it was perfectly manifest that the moment I left that town Avith my face toAvards Tibet, they, or sonie of them at the least, Avould come after me as far as some point Avhere they might make short Avork of me, or folloAV me into Tibet and there betray me to the authorities, for they Avould be richly reAvarded for so doing. To meet the necessity of the case, I ga\'e it out that, OAving to an unexpected occurrence, I was obliged to go home at once, and I left Darjeeling for Calcutta, which place I reached on the 5th of January, 1899. I, of course, let Rai Sarat into my secret, and he alone knew that the day 1 left Darjeeling I started on my Tibetan journey in real earnest, though back to Calcutta I took fare in sooth. On leaving Darjeeling, my good host Rai Sarat Chandra earnestly Avished me complete success in my travels to Tibet, and gave vent to his hearty and sincere pleasure in finding in me one, Avho, as bold and adventurous as himself, was starting on a perilous but interesting- expedition to that hitherto unknown country. Previous to my departure from Darjeeling, I received there 630 Rupees, which had been collected and forwarded to me through the kind and never-failing efforts of my friends at home, Messi-s. Hige, Ito, Watanabe and others.