国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

DR. CH. GUTZLAFIi'S INFORMATION.

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from Raj-hote as far as it was practicable, returning to Niti by the Chor-hoti pass (I7,500).'

One of the objects of this journey was to fix the position of Kailas and Gurla, a work in which he was successful. Thus he was able to continue his survey work of the year before, and the determination of the position of the two peaks augmented the value of Henry Strachey's first rough survey of his route to the Manasarovar.

About the same time Dr. CH. GUTZLAFF's paper Tibet' and Sefan 2 was published representing a standpoint of knowledge far inferior to that of the Stracheys. It is somewhat difficult to follow the description he gives of the situation of the sources of the different rivers.3

»Notice of a Trip to the Niti Pass». Journal Asiatic Society of Bengal. Vol. XIX. 1850, p. 8o

2 Journal Royal Geographical Society. Vol. 20. 1851, p. 191 et seq.

3 »The most remarkable river of Western Tibet is the Ganga. The northern branch rises on Kentaisse mountains, and takes a westerly course through Landak for about 8o geographical miles under the name of Latsoo, receiving many small tributaries from the N. Ariving at the Hindoo-cush, where insurmountable mountains oppose its course, it turns S., and then unites with the southern branch, which takes its rise from the Langkok (Langka) lake, in about 3o° lat., and runs parallel with the former, above a degree of lat. distant, known under the name of Langtsoo. After the union, the river runs S. W., and, meeting again with high mountains, retraces its course in many windings, until nearly reaching the parallel of its origin. Receiving here the Matsoo as a tributary from the N., it forces its way towards India, and constitutes, perhaps, the chief branch of the Indus. There is no river on the globe which has three parallel turnings like the Ganga. If we refer to the result of researches made only recently, by which the sources of the Indus are said to be on the northern declivity of the branch of the Himalaya mountains, in lat. 31' 20', long. 8o° 3o' E., and assume this to be the sanie river that passes Draus in Landak, we find some difficulty in reconciling this account with the Chinese maps. The Sutlej is said to issue from the lake Rawansrad, in lat. 31° 46', long. 8o° 43', which would apply to the Langtsoo. The sources of the Matsoo are less known. The above would make three rivers of a stream which the Chinese represent as one. At any rate, very little is yet known with certainty concerning the Ganga.»

»The sources of the Indus are supposed to lie in 310 20' N. lat., and 800 3o' E. long. If such be the case, the Kang-kó Ganga, after its junction with the Matsoo may possibly turn out to be identical with the Indus. No other large stream here flows towards the S.; and should the latter not be the principal branch of the Indus, the question must naturally arise, what becomes of the immense quantity of water conveyed by the hang-kô towards the S.? Moorcroft's information upon this point appears to be very correct.»

Regarding the lakes he gives the following information:

»The first station, Gotorpe or Garoo, is a mere encampment, in 31° 8' N. lat., and 8o' 24' E. long. The country around is inhabited by nomads. The Mapadalae and Langka lakes, celebrated in Hindoo mythology as Manasarovara and Rawan's-Hrad, are worthy of notice. The sources of the Indus, Ganges, and the Dsangbo, three of the most remarkable rivers in Asia, are here found.»

»To the west are six other lakes, lying in groups of three each, more or less connected by rivers with the Dsangbo. In the S. W. the Tarpoo, Mapama, and Lanken occur, the latter communicating with the Larchoo river.» And further:

»The Mapan (the Manasarowar) is about 14,000 feet above the level of the sea, and is surrounded by frightful mountains. It is a considerable lake, situated in the grandest and most romantic situation, almost constantly kept in motion by gusts of wind that sweep through the mountain-passes. The shores are adorned in the most conspicuous spots with nunneries and convents. From Hindostan numerous pilgrims attempt to reach the spot, under the belief that the sources of the Ganges are here to be found ... The Langka (Rawan-rhad), N. W. of this, is a much larger sheet of water, which receives in its bosom many mountain streams. A large marsh extends through one of its valleys, and