As the “Nationalists” had taken over China in 1911 – there is absolutely NO negative anti-China tropes at any point in the English narrative – either in the early 1920s – or from the contemporary author, which is incredible when you consider the “Nationalists” destroyed the five-thousand year-old Imperial System! The “Nationalists” evolved away from their original leftwing base (under Sun Yatsen) – and morphed into a pro-Japanese, and pro-capitalist entity – chopping-off the heads of thousands who disagreed. Tibet was part of China then as of now – but Mallory discusses only the Office of the Dalai Lama being the Authorities the British had to negotiate with (whilst in reality this Office continuously liaised with Beijing). When British explorers visited Buddhist monasteries without permission from Lhasa – the Dalai Lama (the 13th I believe) would summon the offending Abbot (Head Monk) to Lhasa to have his eyes plucked-out using the old trusty “Ceremonial Spoon” (first offense) in private. If he persisted in his criminal behaviour (defined as “promiscuous compassion”) – he would be “skinned alive” (second offence) in public – with his dead body NOT hacked-up and fed to the vultures.
