BOATING EXCURSIONS ON THE TSCHARGUT-TSO — THE JAGJU-RAPGA. 87
Nevertheless, none of these last sounding-lines touched the deepest parts of the eastern basin of the lake, as we ascertained next day when we took another trip towards the southern part of the island along a somewhat more westerly course.
On the 2 I st September I intended to paddle right across the Tschargut-tso, while the caravan travelled along its northern shore, on the far side of the nearest ranges, the arrangement being that we should meet again somewhere at the west end of the lake. Taking with me a boatman and provisions for three days, and setting out from Camp LXXXIV, I steered first towards the west-south-west and then towards the west, making for the first of the rocky islands, the one which we had already touched on the north. But as usual the wind rose and spoiled my
plans, or at all events prevented me from carrying them out. We had hardly passed the southern promontory of the bay when the gale came, and within a short time the lake was in such a state of violent commotion that it was as much as we could do to keep our boat afloat, without thinking of bathymetrical work. It was not until we had advanced so far as to get a certain amount of shelter from the island that I was able to resume my soundings; and then I got depths of 41.90, 34. to, and I I.75 m. After we had succeeded by incredible exertions in reaching the eastern shore of the island, we had nothing else to do except to lie still and wait for better weather. The waves were beating with uncontrolled fury against the western face of the island, thundering with a continuous roar, and eating away at the shore-line with great energy. The island consists of two swellings; the northern is the more rounded of the two, whereas the other on the south consists entirely of rocky crags, piled up till they make a dominant peak. Scattered about its foot lie a great number of blocks of stone, which have rolled down from above, and now form
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