Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 323 (Color Image)

0323	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

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ravine between Yakalo and Yenching he pro-

ceeded easterly up a narrow gorge, passing the

fine Drag-shih canyon, where steep precipices rise

on either side to a height of from 500 to 600 feet.

At 5 miles the country is more open and there

is some cultivation. Then there is a continuous

gradual but steep climb till at 6/ miles Lha-da-

ting, 11,312 feet, is reached. From here the great

mountain Da-mi-yung could be seen bearing 263°,

but it did not seem so high as when first seen

some stages back.

The divide between the Mekong and the

Yangtze was crossed on the following day and

Pereira marched 134 miles to Ngu-chao (Chinese

Yao-ch'ao). Soon after starting, cultivation ended

and the path climbed along well-wooded hills,

fir trees predominating. At 2 miles the ascent

became steep, and at 34 miles the Chia La, 14,310

feet, was reached. This is on the Mekong-

Yangtze divide. West of Jye-kundo the height

of the pass across the divide is 15,724 feet. And

farther south the height of the Shung La, the

pass crossing the divide, is 10,755 feet. From the

pass there was a steep descent among fir-covered

hills to 54 miles, when the descent became easier

and lay down the narrow Durashi valley. It was

stony and often muddy, and would have been

bad after rain, but luckily the weather was fine

and warm, though it had been rather chilly and

windy on the top of the pass. At 9 miles the

path crosses to the right bank and ascends to

the Chu-chih La, about 12,500 feet. It then winds

down and ascends again to the Chih-ru La, 13,111

feet, at 11 miles. And from there the descent

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