Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 333 (Color Image)

0333	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

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rifles. And from here onward to the Wa-shi

country Pereira would be passing through a

danger zone, as it was all infested with brigands,

though it was said that these brigands were only

in small bands. He would have to encamp, too,

as there would be no houses. He had two tents

made at Batang—one for himself and Thompson

and one for the boys. But these tents, with only

a single fly, were bitterly cold, and the cold would

be increasing, as not only was winter approaching

but they were rising higher. Pongdramo was 12,231 feet elevation.

Next day's march was the most anxious as

regards brigands. The path continued up the

Ba Chu, ascending a steep narrow valley between high hills. At 41- miles the limit of trees was

reached and a steep climb over stony open ground

followed. The main Litang road, which was at

that time closed on account of brigands, was then

left and Pereira followed the small more northerly Litang track, and at 71- miles reached the summit

of the Ta-so-shan (Tsang-bung-a La), 15,610 feet,

the divide between the Ba Chu and the Ding Chu.

This was the highest point he had reached on his

present journey from Yunnan. At the top forty

or fifty Chinese soldiers returning to Batang after

going up the valley for the Litang convoy were

met. The descent was steep, leading down open

slopes. Some pretty small emerald and blue

ponds, probably the source of a branch of the

Ding Chu, were passed. Then the path lay down

a deep narrow valley between high rocky peaks,

some of which were covered with snow. At 12

miles he encamped at To-sumba-ala, 13,903 feet,

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