PEKING TO LHASA.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1926, Page 3

PEKING TO LHASA.

Almost 80 years ago two French missionaries reached Lhasa from China. Thereafter the northern road to the Forbidden City was closed. In the 20th. century occasional travellers were allowed admittance from India, but the approach from China was barred, and many adventurous spirits who attempted it were turned back. The mere fact that this route was tabu was sufficient to instill the late Brigadier-Ceneral Gene Pereira with , the ambition of going to Lhasa by it, , and “Peking to Lhasa,” compiled from -■y Pereira’s diaries and letters, bv Sir <1 Francis Younghuslmnd, is the narrative of his successful pilgrimage. As a matter of fact the scope of this book is wider than the title implies, \ for it gives an account of three gieat j journeys Pereira undertook. Apart from the expedition to Lhasa, which he entered in 1922, he crossed China diagonally, from Burma to Shanghai, and also from south to The diss tances lie covered were immense. On the Lhasa jaunt he travelled 6j160.V miles, 3527 l of them mi foot, and this, although lie was 5(3 years of age, and lame as a result of an accident in Ins youth. Moreover,, travel in the hack country of China is a risky proceeding. • Brigands abound, and the people are \ unfamiliar with foreigners. But Pereira knew the language and got on well with the Chinese, who entertained a high regard for him. His story of hardship endured and obstacles surmounted, is told with rare simplicity and modesty. Although death prevented him from completing the last • journey he had begun, one feels that Pereira was well content to pass away in harness.