The British invasion of Tibet

Late in 1903, a handful of Nepalese yak herders strayed across the (unmarked) northern border. Unfortunately that incursion was into Tibet. They were met by a party of armed men who promptly dispersed their yaks. Not very friendly – but hardly a just precursor to what followed: the invasion of Tibet by a British force.

Tibet was – and still is – a land famed for its remote location and harsh terrain. Much of it occupies a high plateau from 3,000 to 5,000 metres above sea level; travellers arriving across the high passes of the Himalaya are liable to suffer altitude sickness, and for centuries could expect a welcome as chilly as the climate. At the start of the 20th century Tibet was a theocratic state ruled by lamas (highly venerated religious leaders), and almost all foreigners were forbidden. Only Buddhists could expect