The letter from Kharak Sing Pal, a civil servant assigned to combat Tibetan handling of British subjects, is addressed to explorer Arnold Henry Savage Landor and recounts Landor’s condition following his release from Tibetan captivity in 1897. Found in Landor's book, In the Forbidden Land, the letter describes the severe torture Landor endured, including being tied to a stretching log, forced removal of toenails, and mock executions. Landor, along with others like Chanden Sing, faced these ordeals while attempting to explore regions of Tibet closed to foreigners.

This letter provides a detailed account of the physical and political challenges of exploration during a time of heightened imperial tensions and suspicion of foreigners in Tibet. While the incident emphasizes Tibet’s strict foreign policies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it also highlights the risks taken by adventurers like Landor. The letter sheds light on cultural boundaries and the risks of exploration in forbidden areas.