| it stretch expanses of blue water, evidently both belonging to the same little lake, which is said to be called Schaggelang-tso. South of this lake, at the distance of about 15 km. from our route, runs an east-west mountain-range, which appeared to be exceptionally low. In colour it is very dark, in shape rounded, and has steep slopes. Its crest was tipped with snow. Beyond it I failed to detect any other ranges, nor did I observe any conspicuous peaks. Between the route we were following, close to the southern foot of the range that is pierced by the Tschuring and the butte that rises on the northern shore of the lake stretches a very flat and barren plain. The valley we were marching up towards the west-south-west is inclosed between rather rocky, fantastically shaped mountain-spurs, and is traversed by a broad, fairly well defined eroded watercourse, which enters the Schaggelang-tso. For some distance our glen was rather narrow, but eventually it too opens out, and we again had to choose between three glens that debouch upon it. The one to the south seemed however to be soon stopped by the main range on that side; the second runs towards the south-west, has a detached rocky butte in the middle, and no doubt is also stopped by the main range, both glens apparently starting at its crest. The third glen swings away towards the west-north-west, leading up to a pass; this was the route we selected, leaving on our right, as we proceeded, a projecting spur, with a sharp and denticulated crest. Just underneath the pass, in its eastern gathering-trough, the ground was wet from springs, and they gave rise to a little brook, which however soon died away. The pass is rounded and easy, and the acclivity leading up to it is not at all steep ; in fact it is only a threshold in the latitudinal valley. Yet in consequence of the considerable altitude above sea-level, every ascent in these regions cost our caravan-animals the most strenuous exertions. The view to the west from the little pass, which had hitherto acted as a screen, was magnificent. Far away to the S. 89° W. we beheld the majestic mass of the Schah-gandschum, clothed from base to summit with perpetual snow, and forming three separate humps, a big one in the middle and a smaller one on each side. In the clear, pure atmosphere and vivid sunshine, the mountain presented a splendid appearance, causing all the details and contours to stand out with extraordinary vividness. The range on the south side of the latitudinal valley, with its great craggy knots, continued to be steep, fantastic, and gloomy. The northern range is more rounded in outline. The western declivity of the pass is far steeper and longer than that on the east side. The eroded watercourse that runs down it terminates in a brook, which flows at first to the N. t 2° E., but afterwards trends towards the north-north-west, clearly forming a transverse glen that debouches upon the big latitudinal valley in which stood our Camp XCVIII. The grazing was as usual wretched ; all the same we observed a herd of wild yaks down in the glen. The latitudinal valley which we had hitherto followed continues towards the west-north-west, being merely divided by the threshold upon which we were standing. We formed Camp CI on the bank of the stream, the sources of which were not far distant, being situated on the northern slope of the southern range. The region is one of majestic and imposing beauty. Around our camp the bottom of the valley was relatively broad and level, and the ground water-logged. There again the river is joined by several small brooks. The altitude was 5241 m. This district is called, I was informed, Amrik-va. is He d i n, Journey in Central Asia. IV. | | | | | | |
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