36 FROM CENTRAL TIBET TO LADAK.
two separated masses belong to one and the same range, a fact witnessed to by their external configuration, and the east and west extension of their peninsulas, crowned with denticulated peaks and pinnacles. This was the character of the mass which rises east of the rocky gateway. Both north and south of that point the lake forms bays, though the one to the south does not indeed penetrate very deeply. As for the western continuation of this range, we shall encounter it when on our
way to the Tschargut-tso.
Eagles were circling round the bare rocky walls and there also rock-pigeons were flying about. Ravens were numerous, and, as I have already mentioned, gulls and wild-duck at the mouth of the river Jagju-rapga. Thus the avi-fauna of the region was exceptionally well represented. There were also great numbers of kulans, and they were far less shy than those that we saw on the uninhabited plateaus. Occasionally too we observed small flocks of orongo antelopes.
To the south of the broken range stretches a level plain, with an imperceptible slope towards the west shore of the lake. This plain is traversed by the river Alan-tsangpo, which was then carrying a volume of about 7 cub.m. of perfectly limpid water. At the point where we forded it, it was split into two branches, each with a hard gravelly bottom. A couple of tents were standing on the left bank, close to the mouth of the river in the Selling-tso. From that point we beheld to the south-west a chaos of mountains, in which it was not easy to make out any sort of arrangement. They appeared to be the outliers and ramifications of some bigger central mass rather than offsets of the usual parallel-ranges. Between them several glens open out upon the very broad plain which skirts the Selling-tso on that side. Two of these are especially large and it will be from them that the Alan-tsangpo no doubt derives its chief supplies of water. In the S. 85° W. we perceived the end of the latitudinal valley which is situated at the southern foot of the range containing the rocky gateway. Probably this valley too will make an appreciable contribution to the volume of the river. On the southwest horizon rose the great snowy range which we had long had in sight. In that direction there appeared to be no possible route by which a camel caravan could travel, whereas to the south-east the country was both inviting and excellent for marching.
During the last few days the weather had been very unsettled, sometimes warm and sunny, sometimes hail and rain, with a fierce wind from the west. No sooner had we got across the river than another storm burst; the entire country was enveloped in a thick haze, making it almost as dark as midnight, and the hail and rain came down in torrents. In fact we were only able to advance with the help of the compass, for not a single glimpse of either mountains or lake was to be seen. This again softened the ground, which consisted of blue clay intermingled with sand. It became exceedingly treacherous and dangerous, and we were even forced to turn back by marshes of great extent. In one or two places, where the grazing was good, we observed nomad tents. Not far from the last of these we descended a distinctly marked strand-terrace, situated 2 to 3 km. from the present shore of the Selling-tso. At its foot too there were again water-logged marshes and several pools with open water, on which vast numbers of wild-geese were
IIIF Color HighRes
