At length we reached a scarcely noticeable water-divide or threshold (alt. 4837 m.), where red conglomerate cropped out at 84° to the S. 25° E. Here too there was an obo of the same appearance as that which I have just described. On both sides of the saddle were several tents and herds. The brook which runs south-east from the saddle, and which we accompanied, is set about with numerous springs and marshes, and also with excellent grass; and signs of encampments were numerous everywhere. The surface was however literally honeycombed with the runs and burrows of the earth-rats. We were probably travelling then by the same route that Bonvalot followed. It bore evidences of lively traffic, in a number of parallel, much trodden tracks, although at that particular season it did not appear
to be much used. In a cauldron valley, encircled on all sides by low hills, we saw several herds of yaks and flocks of sheep grazing, and in two places also troops of horses. The grazing there was first-rate. This locality is much frequented by nomads, though at the approach of winter they move farther south. Beside a couple of small freshwater pools we counted fourteen tents, all with large herds. It seemed as though some of them intended to stay the winter, for beside them were great piles of yak-dung, which had been collected, dried, and in this way stacked up. We made Camp LII (alt., 4736 m.) on the left side of the main stream that gathers up all the brooks of the locality. The weather this day had been exceptionally
favourable.
On the 5th August when we started again the river wound away to our left, making for a moderate-sized lake, which appeared to stretch east and west. In point of fact, I was told that it is a double lake. Its western basin, on the west shore of which we were marching, is called Tso-tscha and the eastern basin Tsonak.
IIIFカラー高解像度
