The hills on either side are about 600 feet high and covered with grass. In the valley are several small villages with mud or stone houses and fields of still green barley round them.
This valley Pereira followed down on July 16 and at 10i miles reached Gurde Druka, 11,630 feet, where there was a coracle ferry over the Mekong. There was only one coracle and the animals had to swim, being stoned to make them swim across. The river was here 200 feet wide. The ferry operation occupied two and three - quarter hours. The village consisted of eight houses. Beyond the ferry Pereira passed over a small sandy plain and crossed a small valley to Nay Rawa, 11,720 feet, a village of eight mud houses. These Tibetan villages, like the Chinese, are ruled by a headman, Kanpu, who arranges the " ula ".
The route on July 17 lay up the Cham valley for 3i miles. The going was good, though marshy in places. It led among irregular grass hills devoid of trees or bush. There was grass in the valley and barley fields near the small villages. At 4 miles Pereira forded the Cham Chu, which was only 18 inches deep, and encamped on the left bank, as enough " ula " transport had not been collected. It was a dull cloudy day and a little rain fell in the morning. He was now east of Teichman's route.
Continuing up the Cham Chu valley on the following day he crossed the Cham La, 12,880 feet, at 104 miles. It is probably east of the pass marked Rudeb on the maps. The descent was easy, leading down a broad grass slope to Bay-ja,
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