Session 14
From Tatters of the King
Session Report - Played Monday 18th September, 2006
Thursday January 19th 1930
The investigators have just 2 days left in Bombay to prepare fully for the long journey North to Mustang. Browne spends as much time as possible with Francesca, in between equipping for the trek across Nepal.
Friday January 20th 1930
A farewell dinner is held at the Tullis home. Francesca and Patricia do not attend, as Patricia doesn't wish to be around Withers at the moment. Mr Tullis proves a somewhat curmudgeonly, blustering man. The typical sahib, but the meal is fine.
Saturday January 21st 1930
The train to the Northern city of Benares leaves first thing in the morning. All 4 investigators board with the Reverend Gore, who offers to show them around Jabalpur if they wish to break their journey at that city.
The investigators'carriage proves to be occupied by a large Indian family, and only after the conductor has been payed some baksheesh is the problem solved. The train pulls out of Bombay and begins to head North. the investigators are sharing a 6-bed carriage with The Reverend Gore. Siva insists on more modest accomodation for himself.
Gore continues to show his great knowledge of India in conversation.
Sunday January 22nd 1930
The train continues across India. The land is flat, arid and featureless, punctuated by small poverty-stricken villages characterised by communal reservoirs called tanks, straving dogs and wild monkeys.
In the larger towns the platforms throng with passengers and well-wishers.
Monday January 23rd 1930
The Reverend Gore disembarks in Jabalpur. the investigators turn down his other of a short stay with him due to the difficulties inherent in getting all of their supplies off the train.
The investigaors are now alone and able to discuss their plans.
Tuesday January 24th 1930
The train continues across India. As the train travels North the climate gets steadily warmer
Wednesday January 25th 1930
As the train slowly edges its way through the suburbs of the city of Benares it passes a crowd standing near to the tracks. The crowd are chanting angrily and some are gesturing to the train. Siva says they are chanting 'The King Steps Down'.
Suddenly violence breaks own. Rocks are thrown at the train and one smashes a window and hits Withers on the head as he rumnmages for his gun. The rioters attack the train en masse just as the train grinds to a complete halt.
Withers fires at a man trying to enter the train through the broken window but misses as Umberto tries to stop him from killing anyone. In the confusion the maddened rioter enters the carriage and grabs Saunders by the throat. A crack on the back of the skull from Withers' revolver puts him out.
Other rioters try to enter the carriage but are driven off just as the train starts to move again. Troops who were travelling at the far end of the train soon arrive to restore order. Apparently those rioters who boarded the train have now clamed now and don't seem to know what happened. Sonme say a man showed then 'the yellow mark' and they became enraged.
The train moves into the city centre and the invetsigators disembark. Their attacker is taken away by the soldiers. Siva arranges the movement of the exopedition's gear from the train to the platform for the connecting train to the Nepalese border. Despite the chaos of the station Sivaproves most capable and it appears that nothing important has been lost.
Within 2 hours the investiagtors are on a second, older train, heading North.
Thursday January 26th 1930
The train heads North to the border. This train is less comfortable than the Bombay service and the service is less efficient. Siva proves the difference between a pleasant journey and a tiresome one.
Friday January 27th 1930
The train arrives at the railhead at Nautanwa. The expedition's gear is removed from the train and placed in storage until a guide and bearers can be found. Yet more baksheesh is paid to ensure nothing goes missing.
Saturday January 28th 1930
In the town a boarding house frequented by Nepalese is located, and with the aid of Siva a merchant called Jigme Rinzing is found who is willing to guide the party as far North as Gori Padi where he will find then another guide for the Northern part of Nepal. Rinzing is not planning on leaving for a couple of days, however, which will make for a frustrating delay in this out of the way town.
Sunday January 29th 1930
The day is spent in final preparation for the trek. Fresh food is purchased, water-bottles are filled and Nepalese outer garb procured to ease the crossing on the border. At Rinzing's suggestion facial hair is shaved off - very few Nepalese have any - and tea is rubbed into faces to brown them.
Monday January 30th 1930
The trek to Drakmar - day 1.
After Browne manages to handle some last minute concerns about the amount of baggage the Nepalese bearers are expected to carry, the expedition sets off for the border crossing. Deciding on subterfuge rather than a difficult detour through woods in search of a gap in the border fence, the party almost passes by the customs officers without comment, but Saunders' pale Scottish complexion raises suspecions and it looks as if the British officer drinking tea in the guardpost may be called upon upon Saunders produces a thick wad of rupees to persuade the customs man to look the other way.
Nepal is entered. Crossing the border the party pass through thickly wooded country and stops the night in an inn at the village of Butwal.
Tuesday January 31st 1930
Day 2
Today's trek follows a gorge lined with terraced farms and ends at Tansing, a village notable for its fine metalwork.
Wednesday February 1st 1930
Day 3
Thursday February 2nd 1930
Day 4 - Pokhara. Locate Yangser Chumpo, Quarrie's guide. Confirmation of Drakmar.
Friday February 3rd 1930
Day 5
Saturday February 4th 1930
Day 6 - Rope bridges. Browne has trouble crossing. Resorts to opium.
Sunday February 5th 1930
Day 7 - Gori Pani - delay for a day as altitude sickness kicks in. This is are far as Jigme Rinzing and his bearers will be going.
Monday February 6th 1930
Day 8 - Rest in Gori Pani. Find a new guide - Tsewan Pemba and a new group of 6 bearers.
Tuesday February 7th 1930
Day 9
Wednesday February 8th 1930
Day 10 - More rope bridges. More opium.
Thursday February 9th 1930
Day 11
Friday February 10th 1930
Day 12 - Jomoson - the 5 buddhas.
Saturday February 11th 1930
Day 13 - The monastery at Kag - find Schippone's diary (Part 1,Part 2,Part 3,Translation Part 1, Translation Part 2)
Sunday February 12th 1930
Day 14 - Tayen - stories of ghosts.
Monday February 13th 1930
Day 15 - Pemba and the porters quit. Siva says he'll wait here with the supplies.
Tuesday February 14th 1930
Day 16 - A day of rest before the mountain
Wednesday February 15th 1930
Day 17 - Up the mountain to Te with a local guide. Schippone attacks and is killed by Withers. guide is shot. Into monstery. Bodies found. That evening Siva arrives.
Thursday February 16th 1930
Day 18 - On towards Drakmar, Siva stays with injured man at Te. Sleep on the mountain. Dreams reach their climaxes
Friday February 17th 1930
Arrival at Drakmar
