William Moorcroft (explorer) - Expedition To Tibet

Expedition To Tibet

In company with Captain William Hearsey and disguised as gosains, (Hindu trading pilgrims), and encumbered with a stock of merchandise for the purpose of establishing trade relations between India and Central Asia, Moorcroft traveled the upper Ganges through the foothills of the Himalayans. They left Joshimath, well within the mountains, on the 26 May 1812.

Proceeding along the valley of the Dauli, a tributary of the Ganges river. They reached the summit of the frontier pass of Niti on 1 July. Here they were met by Rawats with strict orders from Tibet to repel the foreigners. With his charm, the promise of gain, and proficient use of his medical kit, Moorcroft gained the friendship of two influential Rawats, Deb Singh and his brother Bir Singh. The orders from Tibet were ignored and Amer Singh, the son of Bir Singh was recruited to serve as a guide through the Niti pass and over the Tibetan plateau. Arriving at the town of Daba they awaited permission to proceed to Gartok seat of the Garpon, (Governor of western Tibet). The Garpon agreed to sell them cashmir shawl wool, and granted them permission to travel to the sacred lake of Manasarowar. Moorcroft struck the main upper branch of the Indus near its source, and on 5 August arrived at lake Manasarovar which they explored extensively. Returning by the Sutlej valley he was detained for some time by the Gurkhas in Nepal, but eventually reached Calcutta in November, only to be chastised severely by the Company for his failure to find horses. They were not interested in shawl wool or Tibetan lakes.