The riders were Buddhist monks in disguise. They were on a crucial mission: find the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama was born in Taktser, Qinghai and was selected as the rebirth of the 13th Dalai Lama two years later, although he was only formally recognized as the 14th on 17 November 1950, at the age ...