'Ronald Kaulback came down from Cambridge having skillfully avoided reading too many books, or attending too many lectures. He had no very clear idea of what he wanted to do in life, but he did know that he could make a name for himself. Fate took hm to the Royal Geographical Society, where he decided to equip himself with the bed-rock knowledge required of an explorer - a knowledge of surveying.

 

It was there I fist met him. From that moment his mind was made up; he would become an explorer. I was looking for somene to accompany me to Tibet, preferably a surveyor. Here was the very man, of that I had no doubt.

 

Then came the unlucky news that, for political reasons, Kaulback would not be permitted to accompany me all the way. However much this upset my plans, and disappointed me personally, it was naturally a far more bitter disappointment to Kaulback himself. Finally, the question arose, how was he to get back? To return through the Mishi Hills during the rainy season was probably impossible; there remained only the long and difficult route via Fort Hertz and Burma. Could Kaulback do it? I believed he could, although the crossing of the Diphuk La had only twice previously been performed by white men, on both occasions by experienced travellers.

 

Ronald Kaulback, on his first journey - he was barely twenty-four, with his older companion, Brooks Carrington, who was liable to break down, led the party back over those inhospitable mountains at the worst season of the year. Not without considerable difficulty they reach Fort Hertz and safety. On his return to England, Ronald Kaulback reaped his reward; he was asked to lecture to the Royal Geographical Society.' quoted from introduction by F. Kingdon Ward.