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

NAIN SING AND THE TSANGPO.

274

the Tsangpo from his route. »From Shigatze the great river is again visible at the point where it receives the Penanangchu River from the south.» This was about

I 5o paces wide in December. Next time he saw the Tsangpo was at Khambabarche, where he crossed it to Chushul. »From Chushul the Pundit could see the river flowing eastward for 20 or 3o miles, and was informed that it continued to flow in that direction for a great distance.» Finally he says that the Kichu Sangpo is navigable for small boats for about 3o miles, and in January was about 250

paces wide.

Regarding the colour, the Pundit made the following observations: 2 »At Chushul, 585 miles from its source, the water of the Brahmaputra was in January very clear,

and again in April at the same point the water was only slightly less clear, though the river had swollen. As to the tributaries, the water of the Charta Sangpo and the Chaka Chu rivers was very clear in October, and in May, after the river had swollen, the water was still only slightly less clear.» The Raka Sangpo was very clear in October. From the qualities of the water, MONTGOMERIE draws the conclusion that, as the four northern tributaries were clear, they could not come from glaciers, or, if they did, the glaciers must be very remote or very small. For at the time of Nain Sing's journey nothing was known of the mountains to the north. His conclusion is partly correct, for even the glaciers of the Lunpo-gangri are small, although they are not remote.

Nain Sing reported that »the main river below Tadum (Tradum) is never fordable, even at the broadest part». 3 A few pages further on, VIontgomerie says: »The river is nowhere fordable from its source to near Lhasa.» 4 Only the first statement is correct, for between the source and Tradum I passed two fordable places of the Tsangpo. The six great tributaries Nain Sing passed he found to be rapid, deep streams, that are not fordable during summer, and only one or two can be crossed with difficulty on large horses and yaks when the rivers are low, at other times they are invariably crossed by means of boats». This is no doubt generally correct, although the Chaktak (Charta)-tsangpo in the beginning of June 1907 could easily be crossed even by small ponies and mules.

Referring to the main river Montgomerie says: »After receiving so many large tributaries, it may be a matter of wonder that the river was not broader, but that it should not be so is quite in accordance with what is known of the upper course of the River Indus, which rises not far from the Mansarowar Lake, and flows through the same style of country as the Brahmaputra». He believes that the six tributaries of the Indus, Zanskar, Dras, Saoroo, Shayok, Gilgit and Caubul rivers, are not equal to the six tributaries of the Brahmaputra above Lhasa, as described by Nain Sing.

I The Nyang-chu, Painoin-tchieu of Turner.

2 Loc. cit. p. 213.

3 Loc. cit. p. 214.

4 Loc. cit. p. 219.