FROM MONGOLIA TO INDIA
|
During this part of the itinerary, the doctor of the expedition, Ryabinin, kept a very detailed and precise diary. It was published only in 1997. Thanks to the records of Dr. Ryabinin, we now know even the smallest details of the stages of this passage, during which a deliberate attempt was made to annihilate the expedition.
During the summer and fall, the Roerichs expected to cross the plateau and visit the capital of Tibet, Lhasa, and from there to return to the starting point of their itinerary, Darjeeling. At first, everything went quite well. The greater part of the itinerary had been successfully completed. But when only a few days journey remained to Lhasa, the caravan was stopped at the Tibetan frontier post, despite the fact that they possessed all the necessary documents. As it later became known, the caravan had been stopped by order of the English.
Not a single telegram or letter sent by the Roerichs to various parts of the world had been received, but were sent back without any explanation. For five long winter months, the expedition found itself cut off from the civilized world.
The desert mountain plateau was blown by severe winds. Heavy snowfalls deprived the animals of forage. The supply of provisions was running out; it was impossible to find fuel. Especially exhausting was the cold weather. At night the temperature fell as much as seventy degrees centigrade, while the party lived in summer tents that were not heated.
During their stay there, almost all the animals of the caravan died: from one hundred two there remained only ten, all of which were exhausted, with only two of them fit for further travel. People were suffering from catarrhal diseases. Five persons, all of whom were indigenous Tibetans, died, unable to withstand this severe test.
Owing to great courage and extraordinary firmness of spirit of the Roerichs themselves and to the help of the Great Teacher, theys not only withstood this test, but with strength of fortitude, they powerfully supported the other participants of the expedition. Not until May 4, 1928, was the expedition allowed to leave. In order to continue traveling, it was necessary to buy pack animals and form the caravan all over again. The expedition wasn’t permitted to enter Lhasa, but it was suggested that they take a roundabout way through an uninhabited region.
Thus, the entrance to the capital of Tibet was closed, but what was opened was the entrance to the Stronghold of Light — visitations of which the dark governors of Tibet and their English hosts couldn’t even dream.
As Dr. Ryabinin wrote in his diary, when the expedition approached the valley of the river Brahmaputra, the Decree of the Teacher came at night. So on the next day, Helena and Nicholas Roerich, without luggage, left the caravan and went in a direction known only to them. The road led to Shambhala, where they were expected. Thus, on the next day George became the head of the caravan.
On May 28, 1928, the expedition arrived in Darjeeling, the place where the Roerichs had begun their historically unprecedented journey in March of 1925. Svetoslav came to Darjeeling, having completely and successfully fulfilled his father’s assignment.
The Roerich family gathered together once more.
