Help ref word in Younghusband Expedition letter

[nicklepops]

Hi all,
Not posted for a while but I now need some more help.
My grandfather was on the Younghusband Expedition into Tibet as an officer with the 7 Mountain Battery Royal Garrison Artillery. I am transcribing a book of transcribed letters from him to the family, that were transcribed by his mother Fanny Jane Bennett nee Rendle.
It may also be a post that someone with knowledge of the Expedition could answer rather than the Handwriting Deciphering area?
It concerns a type of "fuel" that appeared to be only available to Troops rather than Officers.
"...was only able to get a very little wood and it refused to burn and the other kind of wood which they call ------- could not be got for Officers only for Troops so we boiled a kettle for cocoa on the Gunners' fire and partly thawed....."
If anyone could help with the missing word it would be helpful. So far I think it is something like quoba... but it may have another part inserted near the beginning?
Hope to hear soon,
Nick

[McGroger]

Hi, Nick,

Grasping at straws here, but...

Goba is a village in Tibet, sometimes spelt Ghoba, or even Qoba. Perhaps a variety of wood from that area? Goba can also mean ‘eagle’, ‘good’ or can be the title for the leader of a village. Can't work out that inserted bit. Dunno... Hope others can help more.

Peter

[nicklepops]

Thank you Peter,
Possible connections....... as you say perhaps others may have a different thoughts.

I have another question for those who can help. Further in this letter he talks about a Depong (maybe Depang) and describes him as a military commander of a District and has a blue button on top of his hat........ and a Jongpan (or something similar) who is a Headman of a Village or Town and like most small officials has a white button.
Can anyone confirm or correct these names?
Thank you,
Nick

[okkool]

I wonder if they are referring to "cho-ua" the tibetan word for yak dung. one of the major fuels in Tibet

Brian

[nicklepops]

Again an excellent thought... thank you Brian
Nick

[Annie65115]

Just to say that I think it says "another kind of fuel" (not "another kind of wood").

[nicklepops]

Absolutely right Annie. A slip up of mine when writing the post. But thank you for looking.