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『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

SIR HENRY TROTTER AND SIR CLEMENTS MARKHAM.

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of lakes between Dangra-yum-tso and Tengri-nor and of the mountains south of them, so far as his eyes could reach.

Sir CLEMENTS MARKHAM was aware of the importance of the discovery. He says: To the south were the snowy peaks of the northern Himalayan range (Gangdis-

ri), which the Pundit traced for a distance of 18o miles.» And in his résumé: »a system of numerous lakes and rivers was discovered, the existence of the vast snowy range of the northern Himalaya (Gangdis-ri) was clearly demonstrated, several peaks were fixed . . .» I

In another place the same author says of the Pundit's journey: that it is among the most important, as regards geographical discovery, that has been made

in the present century» ; of the lakes he says : »All these lakes are new to geog-

raphers, with the exception of Tengri-nor», and of the mountains: »To the south were the snowy peaks of the northern Himalayan range (Gangdis-ri), which the Pundit

traced for a distance of 18o miles. The highest, called Targot-yap, is 25 000 feet above the sea.» Recapitulating the results he says: »The existence of the vast snowy range of the northern Himalaya (Gangdis-ri) was clearly demonstrated.»2

In all these utterances we recognize the original account of Trotter, who in his own résumé, says: »The existence of a vast snowy range lying parallel to and north of the Brahmaputra River has been clearly demonstrated and the positions of

several of its peaks have been laid down, and their heights approximately determined.»3 The conception of the range was stereotyped in such words and could

hardly be otherwise, as no other material existed about this range, which had proved

to be so difficult to approach. Markham's papers are also only extracts from Trotter's excellent account. To his article in the Geographical Magazine E. G. RAVEN-

STEIN has drawn a very good map, which is, however, as far as the Transhimalaya

is concerned, the contrary of »a clear demonstration». It leaves a blank where the Transhimalaya is really situated and it cannot, of course, enter any other peaks than

those seen by Nain Sing and which belong to the northern parallel ranges. In opposition to Hodgson and Saunders Ravenstein suggests that the Nien-chen-tang-la range stretches uninterruptedly to the W.S.W., finally following the northern bank of Raga-tsangpo and completely ending in a high peak, Hurkiang, E.N.E. of Saka-dsong. This peak taken from Nain Sing's survey 1865-66 is difficult to identify. It is, however, situated near the Chaka Chu or Sachu-tsangpo and forms the western end of Nain Sing's »High snowy range», which I have tried to identify as the eastern half of the Kanchung-gangri. West of Chaktak-tsangpo, but farther north, is a range, which seems to be in some connection with the Kailas and is broken through by no fewer than three rivers. The name Gangdis-ri is not used, nor any other name.

I A Memoir on the Indian Surveys, London 1878, p. 163 and 165. Sandberg and Holdich in their books on Tibet and Tibetan exploration do not even mention the discovery of these mountains.

2 The Geographical Magazine, Vol III, 1876, p. 145.

3 Trotter, 1. c. p. I2I.

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