p. 442 | THIBET | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 14, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 28.

THIBET.

ONE of the most thrilling stories of missionary exploration within recent years is that of Miss Annie Taylor, who in 1892 entered Thibet and nearly reached the capital city, Lahassa. Miss Taylor is nominally connected with the China Inland Mission, but, having means of her own, she has conducted missionary work after her own judgment. Some four or five years ago she determined to enter Thibet, which has been rigorously closed against all foreigners. The trade of Thibet is in the hands of the Chinese, who try to keep out all foreigners. Miss Taylor resided for a time at Derjeeling, a point in the Himalayas to which the Thibetans frequently come, where she learned their language, afterward going to China. She started for Thibet from a frontier Chinese town, Taochao, on September 2, 1892. She had as attendants a Mohammedan named Nogar, whose wife was a Thibetan, and also a Thibetan servant named Pentso. Shortly after crossing the border they fell among parties of brigands and at one time were in the midst of a serious battle.

The region through which they passed is a high plain, over eleven thousand feet above the level of the sea, where the cold is intense and where vegetation is scarce. The hardships they endured were of the severest kind. Worse than all was the faithlessness of Nogar, the Mohammedan guide, who stole Miss Taylor's provisions and who sought in every way to prevent her going on toward Lhassa. Unable to overcome her determination either by fraud or violence, he forsook her, going on in advance in order to arouse the authorities to

prevent her farther approach. On the way they passed by the Golok tribe, which is independent and has for its chief a woman named Wachubuma. She rules with authority, and seems to be intelligent and forceful.

We have not room for the extended account which has been given of this extraordinary journey. Miss Taylor was obliged to cross rivers and to sleep for twenty nights in the open air without a tent, snow falling meanwhile. It was difficult to procure food for the party or their horses. Indeed, the horses gave out from lack of food. Owing to the lies of her Moslem escort and the fears that were aroused among the people that she was a witch and would rob them of their country, Miss Taylor was obliged to turn back before reaching Lhassa, and her return was accomplished with almost incredible hardships. She reached the borders of China on her return April 12, having been absent over seven months. She has now returned to England in the hope of finding men who will be ready to undertake missionary work in this forbidding region.

The misfortune of Miss Taylor's expedition seemed to have been the villainous character of her Moslem guide, who sought not only to obstruct her journey but to take her life. Her Thibetan servant proved faithful and true. Though little was accomplished apparently by this particular journey, it certainly will tend to open the way for future entrance into this closed country. It is already reported that she has succeeded in securing a Thibetan band, consisting of ordained and medical men, who will undertake a mission on lines which she has marked out.—Missionary Herald.