[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR. " ] Sin,—On June 4th you.
wrote :—" (1) We clearly did not know before our march began that the Lamas were so bitterly hostile to the entrance of Europeans into their country ; (2) we did not know that they had so completely shaken off the suzerainty of China ; (3) we did not know that they had ob- tained any modern weapons ; and, above all, we did not know that" they would "die in heaps when ordered," &c. Now, Sir, we all who have lived in the neighbourhood of Tibet for any time were peilectly well aware of Nos. 1 and 2; decidedly aware of No. 3 as far as the possession of weapons goes, and the probability—being fanatics for their religion and loathing Europeans—that they would not fear death. I, Sir, hold no brief whatever for any officer, political or other, but there can be little doubt but that the political officer responsible both knew and reported long ago facts known to us all, and to him above all.—I am, Sir, &c., E. R. DIIIINFORD. Fagu Tea Estate, Fagu P.O., Western. Dooars, Bengal.
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