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Bailey Morshead exploration of Tsangpo Gorge

2020-12-19T07:46:49Z

36.71.235.155:

{{short description|1913 expedition that discovered route of Tsangpo River through Himalaya}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
The '''Bailey–Morshead exploration of the Tsangpo Gorge''' was an unauthorised expedition by [[Frederick Marshman Bailey|Frederick Bailey]] and [[Henry Morshead]] in 1913 which for the first time established the definite route by which the [[Tsangpo River]] reaches the sea from north of [[Himalaya]], through the [[Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon|Tsangpo Gorge]].

==Background==
[[File:Kinthup.jpg|thumb|Kinthup, photographed in 1914]]
[[File:Rivers with sources in Tibet.svg|thumb|Sketch of rivers arising on Tibetan plateau]]
North of Himalaya, the [[Yarlung Tsangpo River]] flows east through the [[Tibetan Plateau]] and then turns south into a series of massive gorges in Himalayan mountains. Until the 1880s it was unknown by which route it eventually reached the sea.<ref name=bose />
It could have been any of the [[Yangtze]], [[Mekong]], [[Salween River|Salween]], [[Irawaddy River|Irrawaddy]] or [[Brahmaputra River|Brahmaputra]] rivers all of which have headwaters this region.{{refn|group=note|It is thought that, before the uplift of the Himalayas, the Tsangpo flowed into the [[Red River (Asia)|Red River]] which flows to [[Gulf of Tonkin]], near [[Hanoi]]. During the [[Himalayan orogeny]] the Brahmaputra captured the Red River's headwaters.<ref name=geology>{{cite web|last1=Winn|first1=Pete|title=Geology and Geography of Tibet and Western China|url=http://www.shangri-la-river-expeditions.com/wchinageo/wchinageo.html|website=Exploring the Rivers of Western China|publisher=Earth Science Expeditions|accessdate=17 August 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228171420/http://www.shangri-la-river-expeditions.com/wchinageo/wchinageo.html|archive-date=28 December 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>}} [[Kinthup]], a [[Lepcha people|Lepcha]] man from [[Sikkim]] employed as a [[pundit (explorer)|pundit]], had provided some evidence that the Tsangpo flowed into the [[Dihang]] (which is a tributary of the Brahmaputra) but he was not widely believed.<ref name=bose>{{cite journal|last1=Bose|first1=SK|title=Tsangpo, The River of Mystery|journal=Journal of the United Service Institution of India|date=2010|volume=CXL|issue=581|url=http://www.usiofindia.org/Article/?pub=Journal&pubno=581&ano=765|accessdate=12 August 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814020117/http://www.usiofindia.org/Article/?pub=Journal&pubno=581&ano=765|archive-date=14 August 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{sfnp|Morshead|1982}} By 1911 the connection was widely accepted.{{sfnp|Morshead|1982|p=22}} Another mystery remained: the river dropped from {{convert|9000|ft}} to {{convert|1000|ft}} in a distance of perhaps {{convert|100|mi}} which is extremely steep for a river of this size.{{sfnp|Morshead|1982|p=22}} It seemed there must be a massive waterfall and, indeed, Kinthup had reported one {{convert|150|ft}} high.<ref name=bose />

==Abor Expedition==
In 1911–12 as part of the [[Abor Hills|Abor]] Expedition, the Survey of India conducted widespread surveying of the tributaries of the Brahmaputra.{{sfnp|Morshead|1982|pp=15–22}} Morshead was in a team surveying the [[Dibang River]] while [[Frederick Marshman Bailey|Frederick Bailey]] was surveying the [[Dihang]].{{sfnp|Morshead|1982|p=22}}<ref group=note>The [[Dibang River|Dibang]] and [[Dihang]] rivers are different tributaries of the Brahmaputra. Because it is now known the Tsangpo flows into the Dihang, the latter is now often regarded as a different name for the Brahmaputra in this region.</ref> Oakes and Field of the Dihang team were first to measure the height of the {{convert|25445|ft|adj=on}} [[Namcha Barwa]] and, from Dibang, Morshead confirmed the height – the separate measurements were able to provide a very accurate location.{{sfnp|Morshead|1982|p=31}}

==1913 expedition==
[[File:1914 Northeastern Frontier and Tibet by Morshead and Bailey.jpg|thumb|Bailey and Morshead's map of the route of the expedition]]
In 1913 Bailey, an intelligence officer with the [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]], invited Morshead to be the surveyor in an expedition to explore the [[Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon]] (Tsangpo Gorge), now known to be the world's deepest gorge.{{sfnp|Morshead|1982|loc=22,32–33}}{{refn|group=note|{{convert|16650|ft}} deep. The [[Colorado River]]'s [[Grand Canyon]] is {{convert|6998|ft}}.<ref name=bose />}}
Bailey and Morshead explored from the south with Morshead surveying the entire route and calculating the results as they went so as not to delay progress. By ascending the Dibang river and crossing the [[Yonggyap Pass]] ({{coord|29|13|00|N|95|35|00|E}}<ref name=yonggyap>{{cite web|title=Yonggyap Pass: India|url=http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-2935683&fid=2717&c=india|website=Geographical Names|publisher=geographic.org|accessdate=12 August 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813223802/http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-2935683&fid=2717&c=india|archive-date=13 August 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>) and the Himalayan watershed into Tibet, they reached the Dihang and started up the Gorge.{{sfnp|Morshead|1982|pp=32–36}}

When they were at Lagung, just east of Namcha Barwa, they were arrested by the Nyerpa of Pome who took them to Showa on the Po Tsangpo river. After they had been imprisoned for several days they were released. By following this river downstream to the west and then north they reached the Rong Chu valley where Bailey discovered a tall blue poppy – now known as [[Meconopsis baileyi]] – at a forest edge. They headed south to reach the Dihang river again, this time upstream of the Gorge and just south of [[Gyala Peri]]. Hence they penetrated the massive sweep of the Tsangpo Gorge, north east of Namcha Barwa. They were able to go downstream as far as [[Pemako|Pemakoi-chen]] where they found the immense Tsangpo Gorge impassible. They were only about {{convert|45|mi}} upstream of Lagung but they had to turn to the north to follow the Tsangpo upstream to [[Tsetang]] where they left the river and headed south through eastern [[Bhutan]] to [[Trashigang]], eventually to arrive at [[Rangiya]] back in India.<ref name=mason>{{cite journal|last1=Mason|first1=Kenneth|title={{sic|In Memo|rium|hide=y|expected=In Memoriam}}: Henry Treise Morshead|journal=Himalayan Journal|date=1932|volume=4|url=https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/04/17/in-memorium/|accessdate=12 August 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814003240/https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/04/17/in-memorium/|archive-date=14 August 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{sfnp|Morshead|1982|pp=36–49}} The expedition covered {{convert|1680|mi}} on foot and lasted from 16 May to 14 November 1913.{{sfnp|Davis|2012|p=210}}{{sfnp|Bailey|1914|pp=84–89}}

==Discoveries and outcome==
In doing this they proved that the Dibang tributary of the Brahmaputra flows around rather than through the Himalayan mountains and does not connect with the Tsangpo.{{sfnp|Davis|2012|p=209}} They also proved conclusively that the Tsangpo–Dihang–Brahmaputra was a single river and for the first time established its accurate course along what became known as the [[Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon]].{{sfnp|Morshead|1982|p=49}} The highest waterfall they found was {{convert|30|ft}} and they considered there was unlikely to be a higher fall – this came as a disappointment even to the professionals.{{sfnp|Morshead|1982|p=40}}{{refn|group=note|It later transpired there had been a mistranslation of Kinthup's report – the 150 feet related to a waterfall in a side stream.{{sfnp|Morshead|1982|p=47}} A 1924 expedition found a 70-foot fall two miles further downstream and in 1998 a 108-foot fall was discovered.<ref name=bose />}} For his work Morshead was awarded the [[Charles MacGregor|Macgregor]] Medal by the [[United Service Institution of India]]. At the time the expedition was regarded as a great feat of exploration and it drew international acclaim.<ref name=mason />

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==

===Citations===
{{reflist|2}}

===Works cited===
*{{cite book|last1=Bailey|first1=F. T.|title=Report on an Expedition on the North East Frontier, 1913|date=1914|publisher=Government Monotype Press|location=Simla|url=https://archive.org/details/ExplorationOnTheNorthEastFrontier1913|accessdate=13 August 2014}}
*{{cite book|last1=Davis|first1=Wade|authorlink=Wade Davis (anthropologist)|title=Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory, and the Conquest of Everest|date=2012|publisher=Random House|isbn=978-0099563839|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MsWN1v8V8UMC|accessdate=14 June 2014}}
*{{cite book|last1=Morshead|first1=Ian|title=The life and murder of Henry Morshead: a true story from the days of the Raj|date=1982|publisher=Oleander Press.|location=Cambridge|isbn=9780900891762|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/lifemurderofhe00mors}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey-Morshead exploration of Tsangpo Gorge}}
[[Category:1913 in India]]
[[Category:1913 in Tibet]]
[[Category:Expeditions from India]]
[[Category:Exploration of South Asia]]

Andaman Islands expedition

2020-12-19T07:29:21Z

36.71.235.155:

The '''Andaman Islands expedition''' was a British expedition to the [[Andaman Islands]] in the [[Bay of Bengal]], [[India]]. For actions during the expedition, five soldiers of the [[South Wales Borderers|24th Regiment of Foot]] were awarded [[Victoria Cross]]es. [[David Bell (VC)|David Bell]], [[James Cooper (VC)|James Cooper]], [[Campbell Mellis Douglas]], [[Thomas Murphy (VC)|Thomas Murphy]] and [[William Griffiths (VC)|William Griffiths]] risked their lives in manning a boat and proceeding through dangerous surf to rescue some of their comrades who had been sent to the island in order to locate the commander and seven of the crew from the ship ''Assam Valley.'' They were feared murdered by the "[[cannibal]]istic islanders"; the [[Onge people|Onge]] [[adivasi]] tribesmen.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cs.org/publications/csq/csq-article.cfm?id=871 |title=Ecocide or Genocide? The Onge in the Andaman Islands |publisher=Cultural Survival |access-date=2008-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061002173656/http://www.cs.org/publications/csq/csq-article.cfm?id=871 |archive-date=2006-10-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Initial expedition ==
[[File:Govt of India - Assam Valley Incident Report.png|right|thumb|250px|An official communication about the ''Assam Valley'' incident of 1867]]
The British in India had largely ignored the island of [[Little Andaman]] before 1867. On 21 March 1867 the captain and seven crew of the ''Assam Valley'' went ashore for wood and were seen to get over the reef at the Southern tip of the island by the ''Assam Valley.'' They brought their boat ashore and went into the jungle. After not being seen for two days, the ''Assam Valley'' sailed to [[Rangoon]] to report the event. This occurrence is termed the ''Assam Valley Incident'' and became the precursor event to the skirmishes that are sometimes referred to as the Onge Wars, in which dozens of Onge were killed.<ref name="mukerjee2003">{{Cite journal | title=The Land of Naked People: Encounters with Stone Age Islanders |author=Madhusree Mukerjee | publisher=Houghton Mifflin Books | year=2003 | isbn=0-618-19736-2 | url=https://archive.org/details/landofnakedpeopl0000muke | url-access=registration | quote=Snippet: ''... The captain and seven crew of Assam Valley landed near a large rock at the southern end of Little Andaman in order to cut a spar ...''}}</ref> A ship was sent to Little Andaman but it returned without any success other than to report a piece of clothing, possibly a sailors cap, on the beach.<ref name=WeberChap3>{{cite book |url=http://www.andaman.org/BOOK/chapter3/text3.htm |title=Lonely Islands |last=Weber |first=George |pages=Chapter 3:The terrible islands |access-date=2008-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006072839/http://www.andaman.org/BOOK/chapter3/text3.htm |archive-date=2008-10-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A few days later, the ''Kwang Tung,'' the station ship of [[Port Blair]] was sent with the British Officer in Charge of the Andamanese, Mr. Homfray; along with some local people to show the friendly intentions of the crew. This did not work as the party were attacked by the native [[Onge people]] on arrival and were forced to retreat to their boats under covering fire. The missing men were not located and this expedition was deemed a failure and so a larger expedition with a small military contingent was sent.<ref name="mathur1985">{{Cite journal | title=Kala Pani: History of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, with a Study of Indiaʼs Freedom Struggle |author=Laxman Prasad Mathur | publisher=Eastern Book Corporation | year=2003 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UQ9uAAAAMAAJ | quote=Snippet: ''... Immediately afterwards in another visit to Little Andaman to trace the sailors of a ship named 'Assam Valley' wrecked on its coast, Homfray's party was attacked by a large group of Onges ...''}}</ref> This party, again on the ''Kwang Tung'' arrived on 6 May 1867, seven weeks after the initial disappearance. Three boats were sent ashore, all coming under fire from the Onge. A skull, believed to be from the initial party was found in the jungle, while four bodies were found decomposed on the beach. Although the Onge attempted to lure the landing party into the jungle, the soldiers stayed on the beach returning fire. When ammunition became low, the rescue boat was signalled, but capsized on its way in, drowning a Lieutenant.<ref name=WeberChap3/>

== Rescue ==

Attempts to leave the island were thwarted by heavy surf and a lack of equipment. Two hundred Onge attempted to launch an attack but they were repelled by the freshly resupplied soldiers; the ammunition coming on a capsized rescue boat. Eventually, a boat from the ''Assam Valley'' arrived with [[David Bell (VC)|David Bell]], [[James Cooper (VC)|James Cooper]], [[Campbell Mellis Douglas]], [[Thomas Murphy (VC)|Thomas Murphy]] and [[William Griffiths (VC)|William Griffiths]] on board. All of the party was rescued and returned to the ''Kwang Tung.''<ref name=WeberChap3/>

===Victoria Cross citation===
The citation was gazetted on 17 December 1867:
<blockquote>
''THE Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Officer and Private Soldiers of Her Majesty's Army, whose claims to the same have been submitted for Her Majesty's approval, for their gallant conduct at the Little Andaman Island, as recorded against their names, viz. :—''
<br />
2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment: Assistant-Surgeon Campbell Millis Douglas, M.D, Private Thomas Murphy, Private James Cooper, Private David Bell, Private William Griffiths.
<br />
For the very gallant and daring manner in which, on the 7th of May, 1867, they risked their lives in manning a boat and proceeding through a dangerous surf to the rescue of some of their comrades, who formed part of an expedition which had been sent to the Island of Little Andaman, by order of the Chief Commissioner of British Burmah, with the view of ascertaining the fate of the Commander and seven of the crew of the ship " Assam Valley," who had landed there, and were supposed to have been murdered by the
natives.
<br />
The officer who commanded the troops on the occasion reports : About an hour later in the day Dr. Douglas, 2nd Battalion, 24th
."Regiment, and the four Privates referred" to, gallantly manning the second gig, made their way through the surf almost to the shore, but finding their boat was half filled with water, they retired. A second attempt made by Dr. Douglas and party proved successful, five of us being safely passed through the surf to the boats outside. A third and last trip got the whole of the party left on shore safe to the boats. It is stated that Dr. Douglas accomplished these trips through the surf to the shore by no ordinary exertion. He stood in the bows of the boat, and worked her in an intrepid and seamanlike manner, cool to a degree, as
if what he was then doing was an ordinary act of every-day life. The four Privates behaved in an equally cool and collected manner, rowing through the roughest surf when the slightest hesitation or want of pluck on the part of any one of them would have been
attended by the gravest results. It is reported that seventeen officers and men were thus saved from what must otherwise have been a fearful risk, if not certainty of death.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=23333 |date=1867-12-17 |page=6878 }}</ref>
</blockquote>

==References==
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Exploration of South Asia]]
[[Category:Exploration of Southeast Asia]]
[[Category:History of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
[[Category:1867 in India]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1867]]
[[Category:Battles involving British India]]
[[Category:History of the Indian Ocean]]
[[Category:Expeditions from India]]