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

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316 FROM PASA-GUK TO TRADUM AND THENCE TO THE CONFLUENCE OF TSA-CHU-TSANGPO.

From a hill, Kilung-la, at 5,318m. (17,44.3 feet) one gets a splendid view of the mountains; the Kilung-karmo comes from the N.E. ; in its background rises the three-headed peak of the same name. From the north comes Kilung-nagmo, said to have its sources at the southern side of the Lunpo-gangri, where small glaciers are seen. To the N.N.W. is the valley of Tok-sumchen. To the W. and N.W. my guide did not know the country, and had only heard that it was inhabited by »the Tradum-tribe Sokpo-chumgor». It may be regarded as certain that the Tsa-chu-tsangpo gets most of its water from the S.W. side of the Lunpo-gangri and its N.W. continuation, Lunkar. From the S.E. side of Lunpo-gangri the Rukyok-tsangpo goes to the Chaktak-tsangpo. The Lunpo-gangri ranges include some of the highest peaks of

the Transhimalaya, and from its snows and glaciers much water reaches the Tsangpo. Seen from the Kilung-la the Lunpo-gangri represents an insurmountable wall of steep rocky mountains, and the Tibetans pretend there is no possibility of crossing them. The upper part of the Kilung-karmo is a wild narrow gorge between steep rocks. The living rock is here fine-grained gneiss, quartz-mica-porphyry and grey porphyrite. The panorama I drew will give an idea of the general view. The animal life was represented by kyangs, antelopes, hares, wolves and wild yaks; of the latter a herd of 3o head was seen just under the edge of the eternal snow.

From Camp 177 our road leads W.S.W. up the valley to Särchung-la; the

upper course of Men-chu is left to our right, coming from the N.W. The rock is sandstone. From the south enters a valley Panglung, and from the north Nilung. Higher up the rock is phyllitic schist. The valley gets narrower between low soft hills; from the south Gablung comes in. The last part of the ascent is comparatively steep. The pass Särchung-la, 5,188m. (17,017 feet), is a soft saddle, and the view it presents is magnificent. The highest peak of the Lunpo-gangri again shows itself, N.38°E., as a brilliant, snow-covered giant with black, rocky crags, and very steep sides, and dominating the whole range; N.47°E. is its neighbour, partly snow-covered, and with grey and rose tinted sides. The peak to the N.S7°E. is all snow dipping up as from a sea of petrified waves. From it and from a peak to the N.68°E. small glaciers go down. To get a clear idea of the general orographical arrangement from this point would have been impossible; only the next year should I have an opportunity to explore the different ranges further north.

To the S.4o-65°W. a particularly high part of the northernmost range of the Himalaya showed its world of snowy peaks and pyramids. North of them is the depression of the Tsangpo valley.

The valley going clown to the S.W. from the pass is called Mendelung; it

soon widens out to a plain, Tüchu, receiving the right tributaries Yülung, Poguchenga, and Kyang-kere-napko. The village of Tüchu consists of a few stone walls and tents, and is the residency of the Gova or chief of the district. The ground is very sandy and the rock is sandstone. To the E.S.E. is the valley of Tingchung-hlonga, through which the tasam comes down. The tributary Tiikyu-keta enters from the