| of ice, bright as glass and with a greenish tinge; they were formed by spring-water. At length we turned to the south-south-west, and so came within sight of the acclivity leading up to the Tschang-la. The pass is a gap in the range which we had hitherto had on our left hand, and forms a gateway, into which we entered. The ascent is very steep, and difficult, because of the stones and débris that litter it. The acclivity does not lead straight up to the pass, but is divided into a series of steps or terraces, each successive step consisting of a vast scree of stones. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| At length we reached the summit of the pass, indicated by a cairn of stones, with poles, horns, and rags. According to my observation, the altitude amounted to 536o m. At that time the sky was more than half covered with clouds, the wind was blowing from the south, the temperature was — 16.°. This pass was therefore one of the very highest that we had crossed over on the Tibetan highlands, and much more toilsome than any that we had had to deal with in Tibet proper, though this was due not so much to the altitude as to the long upward climb and the in part difficult character of the ascent. From Drugub we had ascended not less than 146o m., no light matter considering how high up we were to start with. The descent from the pass towards the south and south-west is remarkably steep, the path zigzagging backwards and forwards down the face of the cliffs and repeatedly crossing over the brook that courses down from the pass. After that we kept to the left side of the glen, leaving a solitary house on our left hand. A little below it is a small open expansion of the glen, resembling a platform, and known as Singrul. There a side-glen comes in from the left, which is said to lead to Tanksi, but to be practicable for foot-passengers only. In this part of the glen there is a powerful spring, which had given rise to gigantic sheets of ice; these we had for a space close on our right hand. Between us and the watercourse that runs Hedin, Tourney in Central Asia. IV. 45 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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