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An arjī from Jagatsera Khatrī Chetrī re his journey through Tibet and China (VS 1925)

ID: DNA_0003_0047


Edited and translated by Axel Michaels in collaboration with Manik Bajracharya and Pabitra Bajracharya
Created: 2019-01-29; Last modified: 2021-03-04
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Published by Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities: Documents on the History of Religion and Law of Pre-modern Nepal, Heidelberg, Germany, 2020. Published by the courtesy of the National Archives, Kathmandu. The copyright of the facsimile remains with the Nepal Rashtriya Abhilekhalaya (National Archives, Government of Nepal). All use of the digital facsimiles requires prior written permission by the copyright holder. See Terms of Use.
The accompanying edition, translation/synopsis and/or commentary are available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License CCby-SA.

Abstract

This letter written by Jagatsera Khatrī from Calicalau reports about a journey through Tibet and China. In it Khatrī tells of a troubled British citizen, Thomas Thornville Cooper, whom he helped to go to India, and also about the transport of opium.



Diplomatic edition

[1r-part1]

1श्री­\

1⟪नं­२८०­⟫

1श्री­५­वादसाह­
2

1श्री­५­सर्कार­
2

1श्री­भोट्‌­सर्कार­
2

1अर्जि­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
2उप्रांत­∙ष्वामित­करुणानिधान्­∙यस­अर्जिभंदा­अघिको­हालषवर­१९२५­साल­भाद्र­शु
3दि­२­रोज­५­मा­वाथां­सहरवाट­चह्राइपठायाका­अर्जिवाट­जाहेर­होला­∙औलिथां­सहर
4का­धेवाहरूलाई­∙वाथां­सहरसंम­पुर्याउना­निमित्त­∙जिंमा­दियाका­अफिंका­भारि­∙मध्ये­
5वाथां­पुगि­वुझिलिदा­अफिंका­भारि­२­षोलामा­षस्यो­भनि­∙वुझाउन­नसक्याका­भारि­
6२­के­अफिं­ग्यामा­१२८­के­दर­ग्यामा­१­के­चादि­टाक­३।६­का­दर्ले­ज्मा­चांदि­टाक­४६०।८­
7लिथांका­धेवाहरूले­∙हामिसगै­∙पठायाका­मानिसहरूले­षाल्सावालसग­उठाई­∙दि
8या­र­∙नीज­चादि­बुझिली­भाद्र­शुदि­५­रोज­१­का­दिन­वाथां­सहरवाट­हामि­सेवकहरू­
9पनि­∙नेपालतर्फ­∙रमाना­भै­आञ्यूँ­∙वाथांवाट­२­दिनका­वाटो­आई­∙षोजनि­भंन्या­गाउ
10मा­पुग्याकै­दिनमा­अघि­वाथाङ्‌वाट­हजुरमा­अर्जि­लेषि­चह्राइपठायाका­∙मिष्टर­कु
11पर­
नाम­गर्याको­∙अंग्रेज­पनि­∙यसै­गाउमा­∙पेचिन्‌तिर­∙जानालाई­∙आउदा­रह्याछन्­
12म­तेस­गाउमा­पुग्याका­षवर­∙नीज­अंग्रेजले­सुन्या­छन्­र­∙नीज­अंग्रेज­साहेवले­म
13सग­भेट्­गर्न­आया­र­∙मैले­भेट्­गर्यौ­∙नीज­साहेववाट­∙यस­गाउमा­तपाईले­१­दिं­मुका
14म्‌­गरिदिनु­भया­∙मेरा­जो­भयाको­दुष­दर्द­विस्तार­गर्दा­हुँ­भनि­भंदा­नीज­साहेवका­व
15चन्‌­मानि­१­दिं­नीज­गाउमा­मुकाम्‌­गर्या­र­∙नीज­साहेवले­गर्याको­कुरो­∙पैल्हे­ठिंडफु
16वाट­
---१---का­ठुला­मुषतियार­∙चुंदुच्यांचुंङ्वाट­भोट्‌­ल्हासा­नेपाल­हिंदुस्थान्‌­
17जानलाई­राहादानि­गरिदिदा­सो­राहादानि­∙लीकन­∙येस्‌­तर्फ­आञाँ­∙वाटामा­आउदा­
18तौस्यान्‌­तौस्यान्‌­देसमा­र­∙तार्चन्‌देउ­सहरमा­∙लीथांमा­वाथांमा­∙सुविस्तैसग­आ
19ञाँ­र­∙केहि­दिन­वाथाङ्‌मा­वसी­थकाइ­मारि­∙वाहा­पछि­ल्हासा­तर्फ­जाउ­भनि­∙घोडा­
20षाल्साको­वंदोवस्त­गर्दा­∙तेहि­वेलामा­भोट्का­सिवानावाट­३५०­हतियार­वाध्या
21का­सिपाहि­पठाई­∙मलाइ­साह्रै­∙दुष­दिया­∙त­को­होस्­क्या­होस्­भनि­धेरै­कुरा­गर्दा­
22मैले­---१---का­ठुला­मंत्रिले­दियाको­राहादानि­∙देषाञाँ­∙निज­राहादानिलाई­प
23नि­केहि­मानेनन्‌­∙त­लुच्चा­होस्­∙जुन्­वाटो­आयौ­∙उसैवाट­फर्कि­जाउ­∙हाम्रा­मुलुकवा
24ट­जान­हुदैन­भनि­भंदा­आफु­येउटा­र­२।३­जना­चाकर­मात्र­हुदा­∙मेरा­ज्यू­अनाहक्मा­
25जाला­१­जनाले­यतिकासग­जोर­गरि­∙ज्यान­गयो­भन्या­∙वहुत­पाजी­ठहर्न्या­देषता­र­∙इ
26नीहरूले­∙इनिका­मुलुकवाट­जान­नदिन्या­देषता­वरू­∙इउन्यान्‌का­मुलुकवाट­∙ब्रह्मा
27को­
मुलुक­निस्की­कलकत्ता­जानाको­∙मनसुव­गरि­∙गयाँ­र­∙जादामा­वाटामा­षानु­पिनु­
28वस्नुमा­साह्रै­दुष­पायाँ­∙आफुसग­धन्‌­भैकन­पनि­∙यस्ता­जंगली­∙मुलुकमा­केहि­ला
29ग्दो­रहेनछ­∙केहि­दिन्‌­गोठ­भेटेका­ठाउमा­∙दुद­र­अली­अलि­काचो­पिठो­षाई­जिविका­
30चलाइ­२०­दिन्‌को­वाटो­गयापछि­इउन्यान्‌का­मुलुकमा­पुग्या­र­∙ताहा­चिनियाहरू
31ले­पक्रि­३५­दिंसम्म­मलाइ­कैद­गर्या­---१---का­तेत्रा­∙मंत्रीका­राहादानि­देषाउदा
32मा­पनि­आफुनु­मंत्रिका­राहादानि­मानेनन्­र­∙ढेरै­चादि­षर्च­गरि­∙ताहावाट­उम्क्यर­
33ब्रह्माका­मुलुकतिर­जाउ­भंन्या­∙मनसुव­गरि­दिं­३को­वाटोसंम­गञा­र­∙चिनियै­चिनिया
34को­साह्रै­ठुलो­लडाइले­वाटो­घाटो­∙सवै­वंद­भयाको­देषदा­∙फेरी­चिनैको­वाटो­गरि­
35हिंदुस्तान­जांछु­भनि­त्यहि­वाटो­फर्किआयाका­हुँ­∙अघि­जादामा­भंदा­फर्किआउ
36दा­झन्‌ ­साह्रै­दुष­पाञाँ­∙आफु­चह्रन्या­घोडाको­षुट्टो­भाचियो­र­∙छोडिआञ्यूँ­∙अरू­
37घोडा­∙ज्याला­दिदामा­पनि­∙षांवालिहरूले­घोडा­दियेनन्­∙आफनु­दामले­किनी­
38चह्रिजाउ­भन्या­पनि­पायेन­र­∙येस्ता­अघोरि­जंगली­औ­वर्फानका­देसमा­ढेरै­दिंसं
39म­पैदल­हिडि­आउनुपर्दा­साह्रै­फजित­षाइ­आउदा­∙तपाइसग­याहा­भेट्‌­भयो­भनि­
40नीज­साहेवले­वृतांत­कुरा­गर्दामा­वृटी­सर्कारको­र­---२---को­साह्रै­दोस्ती­हुदा­
41मैले­पनि­इ­साहेवले­∙साह्रै­दुष­पाई­∙वडा­वडा­आपत्‌­षाई­आयाको­देषता­मेरो­पनी­
42छाति­रहेन­∙मैले­पनि­∙सकेसंमको­षातिर­गर्या­∙जो­मसित­भयाको­षान्या­पिन्या­प
43नि­दिञाँ­∙मासु­पनि­षान­नपायाको­∙ढेरै­दिन­भयाछन्‌­र­∙भेडा­पनि­दिञाँ­∙नीज ­साहे
44वले­पैदल­हिडि­कष्ट­षाइ­आयाको­देषता­∙मसित­वढिया­घोडा­थियो­∙तेहि­घोडा­नीज­
45साहेवलाइ­दिञाँ­∙भोटेहरूको­ठुलो­तुलुकुलाम्‌­∙देषदा­मेरा­साथ­लागिआनाको­केहि­

[1r-part2]


46कुरा­गरेनन्­भोलिपल्ट­∙नीज­साहेव­मसित­आइ­विदा­भै­∙मलाइ­यस्ता­आपदमा­ति
47मिले­घोडा­दियाको­मैले­∙यो­गुन्‌­विर्सन्या­छैन­भनि­∙ठिंडफुतिर­गया­∙म­पनि­∙तेसै­दिन
48मा­भोट्का­मिवाना­ल्हाम्‌दि­भंन्या­गाउमा­आञा­∙नीज­जगामा­भोट्‌का­काजकाम्‌­ग
49र्न्या­मंगाम्‌ठेचि­पनि­आया­∙गोर्षालीहरूले­∙ढेरै­अंग्रेज­आफनै­पहिरन्‌­गराइल्याया
50का­छन्‌­भंन्या­कुरा­∙ल्हासामा­भै­∙याहा­मंगाम्‌­वस्न्या­मंगाम्‌ठेचीलाइ­पनि­ठुलो­दस्कत्‌­
51आयाको­छ­भंन्या­समाचार­वाहिरी­कुरा­मात्रै­∙सुनियो­∙तेस्को­मुद्दा­कुरो­केहि­थाहा ­पा
52येन­∙याहा­मंगाम्‌ठेचेले­भन्या­∙ढेरै­अंग्रेज­∙ठिंडफुवाट­ल्यायाका­छन्­भनि­जगा­जगामा­
53सिपाहि­राष्याका­रह्याछन्­सेवानामा­पनि­सिपाहि­राष्याका­छन्‌­भंन्या­वाहिरि­कुरा­
54सुन्या­∙हामिले­भन्या­देषेनौ­∙प्रभु­∙हामिले­हजुरका­पाउ­छोडिआयाको­३­साल­भयो­
55हाम्रा­साथमा­ल्हासाका­अंवावाट­साथ­लाइदियाको­उचुइस्मेत्‌­३।४­जना­र ­चि
56निया­सिपाहि­२०।२५­जना­कास्याल्‌का­४­काजिले­साथ­लाइ­पठाइदियाको­भोटे­
57भारादार­फुफुछिरिं­नाउ­गर्याको­१­जना­∙यति­मानिस­∙रात­दिं­हाम्रा­साथैमा­छ
58न्‌­ठिंडफुका­चुंदुवाट­पनि­तार्चिन्‌देउ­सहरसंम­तांताल्चे­मान्‌­गर्याको­चिनिया­
59भारादार­१­पठाइदियाको­थियो­∙जगा­जगाका­भारादार­आफना­आफना­सिवा
60नासंम­∙पुर्याउदै­जाचदै­गरिआयाका­छन्‌­∙हामिले­हाम्रा­साथमा­∙अंग्रेज ­लुका
61इ­ल्यायाको­भया­∙हामिसगै­आउन्या­नीज­भारादारले­नै­ल्याउन­दिन्या­थियेनन्­∙
62मनैमा­नभयाको­कुरा­आज­हामिले­ल्यायाको­छ­भंन्या­∙यत्रो­तुलुकुलाम्‌­गरि
63राष्याको­रहेछ­∙ल्हामदि­भंन्या­भोट्‌का­दोसाधमा­चिनिया­भारादार­∙नीज­मंगाम्­
64वस्न्या­भोट्या­भारादार­∙मंगाम्‌थेचे­∙हामिहरू­∙ज्मा­भै­∙जो­चाहिन्या­∙घोडा­षाल्साको­∙
65कुरा­गर्यौ­∙फेरि­∙हामिसग­∙ढेरै­अंग्रेज­ल्यायाको­छ­भंन्या­कुराका­∙गल्‌वा­∙मा­वेवुजैमा­
66इन्ले­∙तुलुकलाम्­∙गर्याको­सुंदा­∙चिनिया­भारादार­∙भोटे­भारादार­∙भयाका­वेलामा­∙यो­
67कुरो­गर्या­देषि­वढिया­होला­भंन्या­∙मेरा­चित्तले­देषदा­∙नीज­∙भोटे­भारादार­∙मंगाम्‌ठेचे
68सग­∙हामि­गोर्षाका­काजिहरूले­∙ठिंडफुदेषि­ढेरै­अंग्रेजहरू­सगै­ल्यायाका­छन्‌­भनि­
69ढेरै­सिपाहि­सिवानामा­ल्याइराष्याका­रह्याछौ­∙हामिसित­कति­अंग्रेज­रहेछ­कति­
70देष्यौ­हामिले­अंग्रेज­ल्यायो­भंन्या­कुरा­काहा­सुन्यौ­∙आफनु­---२---का­काममा­आ
71या­थ्युँ­∙आफना­राज्यमा­फर्कि­जांछौ­∙हामिहरूले­∙अंग्रेज­ल्याउनु­नल्याउनुका ­कु
72रा­गर्दामा­साछि­चिनिया­भारादार­∙भोट्‌का­भारादार­∙यहि­छन्­∙सोधि­हेर­भंदा­निज­
73मंगामथेचेले­∙गोर्षा­----२­---र­---३­---यकै­हुन्‌­∙तपाइहरूवाट­ल्यायो­भन्याको­
74पनि­होइन­∙तपाइहरूवाट­ल्याउला­भंन्या­हाम्रा­मनसा­∙पनि­छैन­यत्रा­---१---­
75का­सौगात्‌­आयाका­वेलामा­लुकि­छलि­आयाको­होलान्­भनि­∙हामि­सेव़ानामा­
76वस्न्या­भारादारहरूले­जाचनुपर्नाले­मानिस­रह्याका­हुन्‌­भनि­भन्यो­र­∙तिन्का­सि
77वानामा­तिन्ले­जाचवुझ­गर्नुपर्छ­भनि­भंदा­∙हामिले­∙जवाफ­केहि­दियेनौ­हामि
78हरूलाइ­पनि­∙नीज­मंगाम्‌थेचेले­जो­चाहिन्या­षाल्साको­वंदोवस्त­गरिदिया­र­
79ल्हाम्‌दि­गाउवाट­भाद्र­शुदि­१२­रोज­१मा­रमाना­भै­आई­भाद्र­शुदि­१३­रोज­२­मा­मंगा
80उ­
पुग्यौ­आजसंम­---२---को­र­तर्फ­तर्फका­फर्मायसि­षरिद­भयाको­र­∙हामि ­से
81वकहरूको­स्मेत्‌­ज्मा­घोडा­५५­षरिद­भैसकियो­हामि­सेवकहरूका­वुद्धिले­भेट्यासं
82म­जाचि­लीराष्याको­छ­∙आजसंम­घोडा­पनि­सवै­सावुद­छन्­∙ञाहावाट ­हामिह
83रू­आश्वीन­वदि­१­रोज­४­मा­रमाना­भै­आउछु­जो­भयाका­हालषवरको­अर्जि­लेषि­
84चह्राइपठायाको­हो­∙पछि­पनि­जो­भयाका­हालषवरको­अर्जि­लेषि­चह्राइपठा
85उन्या­काम­गरूंला­∙हरपमा­उचनिच­पर्याको­सेवक­माथि­क्षेमा­राषिवक्स्या­
86जावस्­∙विज्ञेषु­चरणेषु­किमधिकं­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯


87सदा­सेवक­∙काजि­जगत्सेर­षतृ ­क्षतृको­
88कोटि­२­दंडवत्­कुर्नेस्­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯


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Translation

[1r]

Śrī

No. 2801

1 - The Emperor (of China)

2 - His Majesty's Government (of Nepal)

3 - The Government of Tibet

Petition (arji)

Uprānta: Master, Compassionate One, the earlier news from the letter of Thursday, the 2nd day of the bright fortnight of Bhādra in 1925, which I sent from the city of Vāthāṃ2 will be known to you. Local porters (? dhevā) of the city of Aulithāṃ3 were given the responsibility of delivering loads of opium to the city of Vāthāṃ. Of the loads that were to be handed over after arriving in Vāthāṃ 2 could not be delivered because they fell into a river. For the 2 loads that could not be delivered, the costs of 128 gyāmās4 —with 1 gyāmā being equal to 3|6 (3.1.6) silver ṭākas—totals 460|8 silver ṭākas.5 Men whom the [Au]lithām porters sent with us collected [the money] from the Khālsā6 agents. Having received the silver, we [your] servants departed for Nepal from the city of Vāthāṃ on Sunday, the 5th of the bright fortnight of Bhādra.

Having walked for 2 days from Vāthāṃ, we reached the village called Khojani. It so happened that the Englishman named Mr. [T.T.] Cooper had arrived there that same day on his way to Pecin (Beijing)—the man about whom I had written to you, Your Excellency, from Vāthāṃ. This English sahib heard of my arrival in that village and he came to meet me, and [so] I met him. Then this sahib asked me to stay 1 day in that village so that he could explain me his sufferings. I agreed and stayed for 1 day in that village. This is what the sahib told me:

“Some time ago, from Ṭhiṃḍaphu7 , Cuṃducyāṃcuṃṅ, a high-ranking minister of the (Chinese) Emperor provided (to me) a travel document to go to Lhasa [in] Tibet, [and to] Nepal and India. I came here with [that] travel document. I proceeded leisurely along the way, arriving in the province of Tausyān Tausyān and the cities of Tārcandeu8 , Lithāṃ (Lithang) and Vāthāṃ. As I was preparing the horses etc. to depart for Lhasa after resting a few days in Vāthāṃ, they sent 350 armed soldiers (sipāhi) from the Tibet border and caused me great trouble. When they interrogated me—who and what I was—I showed them the travel document provided by the Emperor’s high-ranking minister. They didn’t accept the travel permit, saying, ‘You’re a rogue. Return to where you have come from. You cannot pass through our territory.’ I was alone with only 2-3 servants,9 and seeing that it would be awful were my life to end in vain for standing ground against so many persons, and seeing that they would not allow me to pass through their territory, I instead decided to [pass] through the territory of Iunyān (Yunnan), come out in the territory of Burma and go on to Calcutta. On the way I suffered greatly for [lack] of food and shelter. Even though I had some wealth, it was of no use in such an uncivilized territory. After 20 days of surviving on milk and some plain wheat flour I found in a place where I had come upon pastureland, I reached the territory of Iunyān. There the Chinese arrested me and jailed me for 35 days. Even though I showed them the travel document from the Emperor’s high-ranking minister, they didn’t accept their own minister’s travel document. [Only] by paying out a lot of silver [could] I escaped from there. Wishing to go to the land of Burma, I walked for another three days. However, due to the very big war among the Chinese people10 , everything along the way was closed. I decided that I would go to Hindustāna back through China. I suffered even more on the way back than before. My horse broke a leg and I had to abandon it. The Khāmbālis (i.e. Khampas) did not give me a horse, even though I [would have] paid them. Although I wanted to buy it with my own money, I couldn’t do so. I had to walk on foot for several days in such dangerous, uncivilized and snowy territory. Finally, completely exhausted, I met you.”

When he told this I couldn’t contain myself, given the great friendship between the British Government and the Nepalese Government, and having seen the utterly great suffering the sahib had been through, I did as much as I could for him. I gave him whatever food I had. Since he hadn’t eaten meat for several days, I gave him a sheep, and when I saw the trouble the sahib had walking, I also gave him a good horse. When we saw a large tulukulām11 of Tibetans, [he] didn’t say anything [more] about staying with me. The next day the sahib came to me to bid farewell and said: “I will never forget the favour you bestowed upon me by providing me with a horse in such a desperate time.”

Then he (again) departed for Ṭhiṃḍaphu. I arrived on the same day in a village called Lhāmdi12 at the Tibetan border. At this place, a Tibetan officer, a maṃgāmṭheci13 , came to me. The rumour was that the Gorkha[li]s have brought several Englishmen, dressing them as themselves, had arrived in Lhasa, and the maṃgāmṭheci of Maṃgām received a big signature (i.e., a letter from a high authority) from there. However, we couldn’t verify the substance of it. This was told to us by the maṃgāmṭheci. Under the suspicion that several Englishmen had been brought from Ṭhiṃḍaphu, soldiers were placed at different places including the border. We have only heard rumours but haven’t seen [things] for ourselves.

My Lord, it has been three years that we left your feet. These people are with us day and night: 3 [or] 4 persons including the Ucui14 who were provided to us by the ambā (Chinese ambassador) in Lhasa, 20 [to] 25 Chinese soldiers, and a Tibetan official named Phuphuchiriṃ15 provided by the four kājīs of Kāsyāl. A Chinese soldier named Tāṃtālce accompanied us from Cuṃdu (Chamdo?) [sector] of Ṭhiṃḍaphu up to Tārcindeu16 town. High officials at various places accompanied us to their borders and questioned [us]. If we had surreptitiously brought with us Englishmen, these officials would not have allowed us through. Suspecting that we had brought [Englishmen], even though we didn’t think of such a thing, they assembled a great tulukulām. At the crossroads called Lhāmdi in Tibet we gathered together with Chinese soldiers and the Tibetan official, the maṃgāmṭheci of Maṃgām, and discussed about the required horse-khālsā17 . I realized that it would be good, regarding the rumour that we had brought many Englishmen and caused this tulukulām out of a misunderstanding, to talk about it once the [local] Chinese and Tibetan officials had heard about it and gathered. I said to the Tibetan official, the maṃgāmaṭheci: “You have posted many soldiers at the border thinking that we, the kājīs of Gorkha, have brought many Englishmen from Ṭhiṃḍaphu. How many Englishmen do you see with us? Where did you hear that we brought Englishmen? We have come on our Government’s business, and we will return to our kingdom. Regarding the question whether or not we have brought Englishmen, here are Chinese and Tibetan officials as witnesses. You can ask them.”

The maṃgāmṭheci replied: “The Gorkha Government and the Tibetan Government are one. We didn’t say that you have brought [Englishmen]. We didn’t even mean that you intended to bring [some]. When such a big [entourage bearing] a gift for the Chinese Emperor arrives, some may come along hidden among it. People have been placed because there has to be a check at the border.”

When they said checking has to be done at their border, we kept quiet. Then the maṃgāmṭheci made the arrangements for us regarding the required khalsā. We departed from Lhāmdi village on Sunday, the 12th of the bright fortnight of Bhādra and reached Maṃ village on Monday, the 13th of the bright fortnight of Bhādra.

Up till today we have bought a total of 55 horses [of the number] ordered by His Majesty’s Government and by other parties, and also by us, Your servants. We regularly checked them over as much as our knowledge allowed us to. All the horses have remained healthy up to now. We will depart from here on Wednesday, the 1st of the dark fortnight of Āśvina. I have written this letter containing the current news. I will keep you posted on future news. Please forgive [Your] servant for any mistake in writing. What more [to say] to a knowledgeable one!

Crores and crores of prostrations by Kājī Jagatsera Khatrī Chetrī, ever [Your] servant.

Wednesday, the 1st of the dark fortnight of Āśvina in the (Vikrama) era year 1925, station Calīcalāu. Auspiciousness.


Commentary

This document has been published in Michaels 2019.


Notes

1. This refers to the document number in the registry. []

2. Batang, a city at the old border between Tibet and China (not to be confused with Batang in Sichuan): see https://tibettruth.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/map20of20tibet2019062.jpg [accessed 9 February 2019]. []

3. Litham or Lithang. []

4. In modern Tibetan gyama (rgya ma) refers to half a kilogram. []

5. The ṭāka or tā̃ka (Skt. ṭaṅka) is a silver coin that was introduced to Tibet by Newar traders in the 16th century. In Lhasa opium was sold for its weight in silver. Cf. Waddell 1975, 478. It was in use until 1939, when rupees began to be used. []

6. Apparently Tibetan functionaries. []

7. The place is described elsewhere as a station between “Paitan” and “Lochang syan” along the route from Kathmandu to Beijing and “as taken during the Embassy of Chauntra Pushker Sah, showing the number and position of the mountain[s] passed” (Hodgson 1856, 488). []

8. Tārcandeu is most likely Tārciṃdeu (dar rtse mdo /thartsendo/). []

9. “Two interpreters, for the Chinese and Tibetan languages, and a mule-driver”. Cf. Cooper 1869/1870, 335. []

10. Probably the Panthay Rebellion. []

11. Meaning of this term is unclear. []

12. Nyelam? []

13. manga is known to have been a kind of tax, while theci is perhaps derived from Nep. ṭheka[dāra], “contractually appointed revenue collector”. []

14. The meaning of this term is unclear. []

15. Probably a transliteration of phur bu tshe ring, the Central Tibetan pronunciation being Phūbu Tshering. []

16. Tārcandeu, Tib. dar rtse mdo. []

17. Probably a tax relating to horses. []