1887 found the 24-year-old officer in the middle of the Gobi desert, retracing a path followed by no European since Marco Polo, he had managed to convince his superiors that he could find a new land route from China to India. The promised route would take him to the Moostak pass, the watershed between India and China, and long considered impassable.
Under the shadow of K2, the world second highest peak, this small man found himself once again spiritually transformed by a mountain. "Having long seen that", he would later write, "how could I ever belittle again". The ice precipice at the crest of the Moostak did indeed look impassable to Young Hasband, but when his native guide strudded down the other side, he followed. On slick leather boot and without ice crampons, it was a nearly a suicidal descent, but would earn Young Hasband the fame he craved. Some called it the greatest feat of mountaineer yet accomplished, and the Royal Geographical Society would award him the coveted gold medal for his journey, his exploits would also bring him to the attention of another great gamer, called George Cursion, who shared his fascination with Tibet and would one day cast Young Hansband"s fate in the forbidden land.
Young hansband was now one of the world"s most eligible bachelors, but only on paper. Around any woman other than his sister Emmy, the daring explorer was in agony, desperately wishing himself miles away preferably alone in the Himalayas.
"He was terrified of women, he found them baffling, he found them strange, he didn’t know how to get on with them or relate to them, if you liked he could express himself, probably better by climbing a mountain, than he could by having a conversation with somebody ."
Frances for his part was agonizingly aware of his plight, a beautiful young socialite had agreed to marry him, but broke it off because when the smitten francescould not overcome his stiff, nearly mute panic in her presence.
"I am losing my darling May, all the time I am cold and stiff, and formal."
Dejected, Young Hansband set his sights once more on Tibet, he requested to leave to slip into the forbidden land disguised as a Himalayan merchant, but his superiors had had enough of his adventures, and 15 years would pass before fate would give him a shot at Tibet.
In January 1899, a miserable Francis Young Handsband watched as his friend George Cursion was installed as viceroy of India amidst great pump in circumstance. While Cursion star had risen ,Young Handsband's own had fallen. His early fame had eclipsed by a reputation as a bit of loose cannon, his army career had plateaued early and his personal life was desperately unhappy. He had married an elder woman who had made him promised that he would never have sex, somehow the couple managed to have children, but the marriage was never a happy one. Approaching 40, the once great explorer was now going nowhere fast.
"He has really reached this point by his later 30s, where his career has stagnated and almost stopped, and that's the moment when suddenly he gets the call from the viceroy of India lord Cursion, who is a personal friend of his, he says to him would he like him to lead a small expedition into Tibet.”
"Cursion from all account was a fairly paranoid, personally it came to the potential desires of Russia, but Tibet was important for him, because he felt that if imperial Russia was to move down and to sort of win Tibet over, then they would have the Russian bear right at the door of the British raj.
But the 13th Dalai lama had refused to open the country to British trade to allow Cursion's emissaries beyond the border, or even to open Cursion's letters. The viceroy decided it was time for more forceful measures and his friend heartily agreed.
"I have no hesitation in recommending for the power of monks should be so far broken as to prevent them any longer selfishly obstructing the prosperity of both Tibet and of the neighbouring British districts---Francis Young Husband.
Marco Polo n.
马可波罗(意大利旅行家,商人,1254-1324)
watershed n.
A ridge of high land dividing two areas that are drained by different river systems.
分水岭将两个不同水系流经地区分开的脊状高地
Under the shadow of adv.
在...附近, 在...阴影笼罩下, 在...保护下
precipice n.
An overhanging or extremely steep mass of rock, such as a crag or the face of a cliff.
悬崖悬崖或极其陡峭的岩石，如岩崖或悬崖壁
crest n.
The top, as of a hill or wave.
山顶，浪尖山或波浪等的顶部
crampon n.
An iron spike attached to the shoe to prevent slipping when walking on ice or climbing.
尖铁钉在冰上行走或爬山时防止滑倒而装在鞋上的铁钉
crave vt.
To have an intense desire for.
对…热切希望
agony n.
The suffering of intense physical or mental pain.
痛苦忍受肉体或精神上的极度痛苦
plight n.
To promise or bind by a solemn pledge, especially to betroth.
以誓约约束，允诺通过庄严的誓言来保证或约束，特别是订婚
socialite n.
One prominent in fashionable society.
社会名流上流社会人士
viceroy n.
A man who is the governor of a country, province, or colony, ruling as the representative of a sovereign.
总督国家、省或者殖民地的男总督，统治权的代表
eclipse vt.
To obscure or diminish in importance, fame, or reputation.
把…遮暗，没落在地位、名气和名誉方面使人失去荣耀或隐没
plateau vt.
To reach a stable level; level off:
达到稳定水平达到稳定水平；达到平衡
stagnate vt.
使)淤塞, (使)停滞, (使)沉滞, (使)变萧条
raj n. 统治；支配
Dominion or rule, especially the British rule over India (1757-1947).
主权，统治管辖或统治，尤指英国对印度的统治(1757-1947年）
emissary n.
An agent sent on a mission to represent or advance the interests of another.
使者被派去代表另一个人的利益完成某使命的人 |
