IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| Southern Tibet : vol.3 |
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Citation Information
| 124 | THOMSON, HOOKER, CAMPBELL AND CUNNINGHAM. | ||
| hand ...; in popular estimation Eastern Thibet is bounded on the north-west by the Kangtisee range of mountains, and a greatly elevated tract of country extending from the base of this range; on the north by Mongolia; on the east by the Sifan and Sechuen provinces of China, and on the south by the Himalaya, from the point at which it is pierced by the Burampootur on the east, to the meridian of the Manasarowur and Rawan Rud Lakes on the west. The general direction of the Kangtisee range is north and south, and it is said to connect the Himalaya and Mon- golia, as by a cross-bar.» This passage was written some nine years after Hodgson wrote his important paper; Essays on the Languages etc., where the Nyenchhen-thångld was mentioned in a few words. And still Campbell, who was Hodgson's friend did not even mention it. On the contrary, his experience from inquiries was that the natives did not recognize a continuous chain of mountains north of the Himalaya. That they did not know the Kwen-lun is quite natural, for only the Chinese call the system by that name, and then the system is situated far beyond Tibet, ethnologically speaking. It belongs to a country the Tibetans have never heard of. The statement that Mongolia lies »parallel» to Himalaya is incomprehensible. Such assertions only give new proofs of the great vacuum north of the Tsangpo to the European geographer's mind. Campbell's description of the »Kangtisee range» is a survival from Humboldt and others. That anything like it could be written after Moorcroft's and the Stracheys' journeys is curious. A cross-bar connecting Himalaya and — Mongolia! Campbell gives a short itinerary of a Route to the Salt Mines in Thibet. It goes from Digarchi to Punchooling in 3 marches. At Digarchi (Shigatse) the direction is north-west across the Yaroo, but it is not said that both places are on the same bank of the river. Then follow Amringjong 4 marches north-west, Nakchang 8 marches, Sang-zang Lhoda 6, Sakojong 7, To-then 8 marches, all northwest, Bomet 3 marches north, Lon-kurqun i o, Tarokchan 2, Borghagege 3 and the Salt mines one march, all north; being in all 55 marches »for loaded men», I each about i o miles. With our present knowledge of the country it is easy to follow this route: Shigatse, Pindsoling, Ngapringkyim-tso, Sangsang, Saka-dsong, Bupmet (?), Tarok-tso and Tabie-tsaka. In Campbell's time it was of course impossible to make out the itinerary. He exaggerates the distance which cannot be more than 400 miles. Dr Campbell has also written an account of the journey he undertook in September, October and November 1849 in company with Dr Hooker and he took part in the climb up the Bhomtso hill. He has nothing of special interest about the country to the north and modestly says he had little occasion to make personal observation. He speaks of a »very curious map of the country compiled by natives who had travelled as Lamas and Merchants over the greater part of it». | |||
| I Ought to be: for loaded sheep. | |||
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