In the next volume of this work, when dealing with my eight crossings over the Transhimalayan system, I shall have an opportunity to describe those of the northern tributaries, with which I have made acquaintance. In this connection I will only describe those parts of my own route which touch the great Tsangpo, and a few of the small tributaries to its upper course. The general map of my journey will show that I have avoided as much as possible travelling in the valley of the Tsangpo. This route had been done by Nain Sing, and then by Rawling and Ryder, whose excellent map could not be improved by me, when I travelled without permission and alone with Asiatics. But keeping north of the river, and in two cases, south of its course, I could add new survey to Ryder's map. Only for 2' 2 marches I could not avoid following the same road as Ryder. From the confluence of the Raga-tsangpo and Tsangpo, and down to Shigatse I travelled along the northern bank of the river, a part of the course which had not been surveyed by Nain Sing and Ryder. Below the confluence with the Chaktak-tsangpo I followed the great river for only half a march, and for one day's march I again followed it from Chärok to Shamsang. Otherwise I only crossed the Tsangpo at seven different places, and thus got a better idea of its hydrographic capacity and characteristics than anyone of my predecessors.
Karu is a little village where, on my road down from the first crossing of the Transhimalaya, I first reached the Tsangpo. From here I travelled, on February 7th and 8th, 1907, along the northern bank, and on February 9th with a hide-boat on the river to the ferry place which is nearest to Shigatse, on March 2 7th 28th, 29th and 3oth, 1907 I returned from Shigatse to Karu. My wish to follow the southern bank for the return journey was not granted by the Chinese authorities, so I had to take the same road twice. I had at least the satisfaction to get exactly the same names from different guides for villages and valleys passed, and had a good opportunity to control how far the Tibetans were reliable in their
information.
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