MOUNTAINS SEEN NORTH OF THE TSANGPO. I29
Nain Sing reached Katmandu on March 7th, 1865 and managed, after many difficulties to pass Kirong and proceed to Tradum, September 6th. In the company of a Ladaki merchant he went on to Sarkajong (Saka-dsong), where he arrived on October 8th. Over Ralang he arrived at Shigatse, continued, at the end of December, to Gyangtse, crossed the »lofty Kharola mountains» and arrived at »Nang-ganche-jong». He estimated the circumference of Jamdok-tso at 45 miles and the width at 2 or 3 miles. »The Pundit was told that the lake had no outlet, but as he says its water was perfectly fresh, that is probably a mistake; if so, the Pundit thinks the outlet may be on the eastern side, where the mountains appeared to be not quite so high as those on the other side. The evidence as to the lake encircling a very large island is unanimous. Almost all former maps, whether derived from the Chinese maps made by the Lamas, or from native information collected in Hindustan, agree in giving the island a very large area, as compared with the lake in which it stands. This is, however, a very curious topographical feature, and as no similar case is known to exist elsewhere, it might perhaps be rash to take it for granted until some reliable person has actually made the circuit of the lake. The water was very clear, and said to be very deep.»
Then the party crossed over the »Khambala mountains by a high pass» and reached the great »Nårichû» (Tsangpo) at Khambabarche. Over »Chusul» they reached Lhasa on the 1 oth of January 1866.
On April 21st Nain Sing left Lhasa and marching back by the great road as before, reached Tradum on 1st of June. Then he passed Maryum-la and Darchen and reached British territory after an absence of 18 months.
In his admirable résumé of the results Montgomerie says: 1 »Little idea of the general aspect of the country which the road traversed could be given by the Pundit. From the Mansarowar Lake to Tadûm (14o miles) glaciers seem always to have been visible to the south, but nothing very high was seen to the north;
for the next 7o miles the mountains north and south seem to have been lower, but further eastward a very high snowy range was visible to the north, running for 120 miles parallel to the Raka Sangpo River.» A very high peak called Harkiang was seen at the western extremity of this range. Another very high peak also rose between the Raga-tsangpo and the Tsangpo. »From the lofty Khamba-la Pass the Pundit got a capital view. Looking south he could see over the island in the Yamdokcho Lake, and made out a very high range to the south of the lake; the mountains to the east of the lake did not appear to be quite so high. Looking north the Pundit had a clear view over the Brahmaputra, but all the mountains in that direction were, comparatively speaking, low, and in no way remarkable. About Lhasa no very high mountains were seen, and those visible appeared to be all about the same altitude. Hardly any snow was visible from the city, even in winter. . . . The mountains had a very desolate appearance. ...»
I Journal, 1. c., p. i 5o. 17-141741 III.
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