1936 - 1937 Mission Diary

The official diary of the Gould mission to Lhasa sent by the British government. Read more about the mission diary.

December 1st, Tuesday.

see photographs below

The weather is still amazingly fine. Though it is cold at night (usually about 15 F.), the sun shines all day from a cloudless sky.

Some Mummers, came and danced for our entertainment. These are local and rather amateurish performers as opposed to the more accomplished Khamba dancers and acrobats who tour the countryside professionally. The latter have also visited us. Another dinner and cinema show this evening. Nyemo Dongkar Wa, a 4th rank official at present unemployed, and Tsoko, the newly appointed Depon in Kham, were our guests. As usual each brought a considerable female retinue and many servants.

Author: Frederick Spencer Chapman [see handwritten annotations in Diary by Hugh Richardson in MS. Or. Richardson 2, Bodleian Libary, Department of Oriental Collections, University of Oxford]

Page Reference: Pt X p.2