TO LHASA IN DISGUISE
A secret traveller to the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, the author of this unusual volume was forced to live, dress and behave as a Tibetan in order to remain undetected. Because of his unique perspective, he is able to provide an excellent description of the diplomatic, political, military and industrial situation of the country in the 1920s. His account of life in the Forbidden City of the Buddhas contains a wealth of compelling stories and fascinating information.
THE ROUTLEDGE TRAVELLERS SERIES
A Journey Through Persia and Turkish Armenia Gerald Reitlinger
A Summer in Touraine Frederic Lees
A Winter in Majorca George Sand
A Woman in the Balkans Winifred Gordon
Adventure in Hawaii and Tahiti Edward T. Perkins
Alexandria: The Ancient and Modem Town E. Breccia
Autobiography of a Chinese Girl Hsieh Ping-Ying
Burma R. Talbot Kelly
Chinese Pictures J. F. Bishop
Egypt and Nubia J. A. St. John
Fifty Years in Maoriland James T. Pinfold
In Hawaii with Jack London Jack London
In Stevensons Samoa Marie Fraser
Island Nights Entertainments Robert Louis Stevenson
Man and Animals in the New Hebrides John R. Baker
Mongolia N. Prejealsky
My Consulate in Samoa William B. Churchward
News from Tartary Peter Fleming
Oceania Frank Fox
Unbeaten Tracks in Japan Isabella Lucy Bird
Old Touraine Theodore Andrea Cook
The Discovery of Tahiti George Robertson
The French Riviera Pierre Devoluy and Pierre Borel
The Golden Chersonese Isabella Lucy Bird
The Heart of the Orient Michael Myers Shoemaker
The Riviera Hugh Macmillan
The Romance of Treasure Trove Charles R. Beard
To Lhasa in Disguise William Montgomery McGovern
Treasure of Ophir C. E. V. Craufurd
A Year Amongst the Persians Edward Granville Browne
Constantinople and Istanbul Old and New H. G. Dwight
Tahiti George Calderon
Cruise of the Snark Jack London
In the South Seas Robert Louis Stevenson
Six Months in Hawaii Isabella Bird
Korea and Her Neighbours Isabella Bird
Strolling Through Istanbul H. Sumner-Boyd and J. Freely
Camp Life and Sport in Dalmatia and the Herzegovina Anonymous
Quest for Sheba Norman Stone Pearn and Vernon Barlow
An English Consul in Siam W. A. R. Wood
Voyages in the Orient Gerald De Nerval
The Loyal Karens of Burma Donald Mackenzie Smeaton
Romance of a Harem Clarence Forestier-Walker
South Sea Idyls Charles Warren Stoddard
Hawaii: The Past, Present and Future of its Island-Kingdom Gerald Manly
Dr. William Montgomery McGovern
First published in 2004 by
Kegan Paul International
This edition first published in 2011 by
Routledge
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Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
Kegan Paul, 2004
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 10: 0-7103-1060-9 (hbk)
ISBN 13: 978-0-7103-1060-6 (hbk)
Publishers Note
The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but points out that some imperfections in the original copies may be apparent. The publisher has made every effort to contact original copyright holders and would welcome correspondence from those they have been unable to trace.
Dedication to William Dederich, ESQ.
DEAR MR. DEDERICH,
It would seem to me quite wrong that this book should go out without being dedicated to you, for not only were you the kindly patron through whose unfailing support and cooperation the whole journey through Tibet was made possible, but it is entirely owing to your insistence that the present book has been written.
I had intended to write a somewhat technical volume dealing with the scientific results of my journey through Tibet, with special reference to anthropology, both physical and social, omitting all matters of merely personal reference, but you have persuaded me that you, and perhaps some others, would be interested in reading a plain account of some of the personal experiences which my secret expedition to Tibet entailed.
It certainly was interesting to be forced to see Tibet, and the Tibetans, from the Tibetan point of view, to live as a Tibetan for months when a false word or act would have given me away; to be forced to study their quaint customs, not merely from a dry, dull, scientific standpoint, but also that I might journey amongst them without being detected, and so I have given way to your arguments and, departing from my custom with previous books, have tried to describe some of the varied experiences which I encountered during my secret expedition to the Sacred City.
I have, therefore, put off to a subsequent volume discussion of the more technical side of my exploration work, detailed notes on the physical geography of the country, and the comparative anatomical measurements which I made with the view of ascertaining the exact racial position of the people. In the same way I have postponed detailed treatment of the minute points of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy a subject which greatly interested me and have tried to make the present volume one which can be read with interest and enjoyment and not merely be used as a book of reference.
At the same time I have tried to include in this work something which would make it of more lasting worth, numerous notes of personal observation of various aspects of the country and of the people. I have tried to weave through the record a general but accurate description of manners and customs and beliefs, including some of the extraordinary institutions which exist in the government of Lhasa.
Finally, I have tried to give an adequate description of the great transformation which has taken place in Tibet during the last few years, so that I hope it canbeclaimed thatmybook gives to the general public its first exact information concerning the present diplomatic, political, military, and industrial situation in a country which occupies such an important strategic centre that it is of interest to all students of Asiatic and world affairs.
This work is sent out in all true humility. I make no pretence to style or to fine writing, but if you and others can get any pleasure from reading of adventures which took place, and observations which were made on The Roof of the World, I shall feel more than repaid for all the trouble which the writing of this book has entailed.
