Detailed map of the Tibetan border from Garyarsa (formerly Gartok) to Lhasa in the east illustrating the journey of Major Ryder and Captains Wood and Cowie during the Tibet Frontier Expedition (1903-04). The map includes two inset maps putting the area of exploration along the Rivers Indus, Tsangpo and Brahmaputra into context, as well as a chart with the measured points of triangulation.



The map shows the journeys of British army officers Major Charles Henry Dudley Ryder (1868-1945), Captains H. Wood and H. M. Cowie during the Tibet Frontier Commission of 1903-04. The red route marked on the map follows their journey along the Rivers Indus, Tsangpo and Brahmaputra from Reo Purgyil peak in Himachal Pradesh to Garyarsa, east along the Tibetan border to Lhasa, via Darjeeling. The map states that the geographic source is work from the Survey of India.



The Tibet Frontier Commission was part of the British Expedition to Tibet, also known as the [Francis] Younghusband Expedition to Tibet. From December 1093 until September 1904, the British Indian Army interfered with and invaded Tibet, with the reported intention of establishing and resolving a border dispute between Tibet and Sikkim. The Commission was led by British army officer, explorer and British Commissioner to Tibet, Colonel Francis Younghusband (1863-1942), who was under the orders of Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon.

This invasion was of course met with hostility from the Tibetan Government, but due to the large and well-armed British military escort, it resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Tibetan soldiers.



Following the invasion, the Treaty of Lhasa was imposed by Great Britain. It was primarily a trade agreement for the British to be able to trade at Garyarsa and Gyangze, to establish a formal border between Sikkim and Tibet, and have China pay military reparations.



Printed colour. [IC2725]