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

24S

RYDER, RAWI.ING, SANDBERG AND OTHERS.

to say the entrance to the source-valley is from the S.E., and not from the N.E,, as would seem more likely. But the whole description loses a good deal of its importance when we are told that not Kubi-tsangpo but Chema-yundung is meant. This explains his saying that the mountains at the source separate the source-valley from Manasarovar and Rakas-tai, which is indeed the case. The actual source is said to be a large gravelly marsh, which does not, however, well agree with the long, narrow valley in which it should be situated. I cannot, however, judge in this case, as I never went up to the source of the Chema-yundung-chu. The topography may be very like that of the Kubi-tsangpo. That the river comes from glaciers is certain and at their foot there may be a gravelly marsh as well as at the foot of Kubi-gangri.

How does Sandberg know that the glaciers which give rise to the Chemayundung are situated N.W., N.E., and S.W. of its valley? It is not probable that any glaciers exist N.E. of the source. This problem will have to be solved in the future and the very source of the Chema-yundung, even if well known by certain Tibetan tribes, has not yet been discovered by any European.

The following passage confounds what he has said before : »The Sands of the Mystic Wheel, whence the river takes rise, are closely hemmed in by parallel ranges trending south-eastwardly. The northern range, Gang-ri Gur-gyab, shuts off the sources of the Indus. The southern wall is a massive ridge developed from Gur Lha, itself a stupendous mountain-matrix flung up to the south of Ts'o Måpang. This ridge bearing the name of Nyimo Namgyal, 'that which completely vanquishes the sun', eventually makes to the S.S.E. to form the watershed lower down between the Tsangpo and the rivers of Nepal.»

Here we are told that the source of the Chema-yundung, the large gravelly marsh, is closely hemmed in by parallel ranges, the northern of which is not only a watershed to the Indus, but to its very sources, which is absurd, as they are situated north of the Transhimalaya, in another part of the country. The northern range is called Gang-ri Gur-gyab, a name sounding like Kawaguchi's Kon Gyu-i Kangri.

Thus Sandberg locates the source of the Brahmaputra close on the southern side of a range, on the northern side of which the sources of the Indus are situated.

As the first fixed geographical point he regards Mariam or Mai Yum La »the Mother of the Lowlands Pass». I He correctly describes the Maryum-chu as a tributary : »The descent we are now traversing from the Mariam La does not yet touch the great waterway. The combined route at first keeps laterally along the northern side of the valley and is accompanied by a small river formed by streams from the heights abutting the Mariam Pass. This path has to be traversed some thirty miles further before the merchants, packmen, and pilgrims come in sight of the mighty Tåmchhok (or Tåmchhen) Khabab travelling grandly eastwards. However, the banks are not actually gained until the post-stage named Tåmchhen Tåzam has been

I This translation seems to be more correct than that of B. von Zach, who writes: »Maryung la, maryong-la, glänzender Pass

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