problems that can only be settled by scientific exploration.» Amongst the other problems which had to wait for exploration was obviously Transhimalaya. For Saunders' representation of the Mekong and Salwen as tributaries to the TsangpoBrahmaputra was just as wrong as his representation of the Transhimalaya. In spite of there having been no exploration he draws the upper Mekong and Salwen definitely as tributaries to another river, a fact that proves that his map, in the unknown regions, is built up on hypotheses, not only regarding the rivers but also regarding the mountains. In his able and most interesting memoir Saunders says himself, under 4), regarding the Kwen-lun as being the northern limit of the Tibetan highland: »But all detailed knowledge of the interior of this extraordinary country is wanting, and it must continue to be a sealed book to Europeans until friendly pressure is put upon the Government of Peking to allow European intercourse between India and the Chinese dominions.»
Saunders also regards the Kara-korum as a »range», for he says: »The upper valleys of the Sanpu, the Sutlej, and the Indus, appear to form a huge elevated trough separating the Himalaya from the northern part of the table-land of Tibet, and from the snowy range into which that table-land contracts at its western end. This range is crossed by traders in its narrowest parts, through the Mustagh pass, and also through the Karakorum pass . . .»
One notices in Saunders' memoir the want of real knowledge. So for instance he says of the Indian water-parting that it »divides the Tibetan system from the Indus basin on the west, and from the Sanpu or Brahmaputra basin on the east. The only part of the Tibetan lake basins explored by Europeans is the western extremity crossed by the Changchenmo route between the Punjab and Yarkand.» And of the northern range of the Himalaya which divides the Sanpu from the Ganges he says: »In these regions geographical knowledge is limited to the routes of Capt. Turner, Dr. Hooker, and Major Montgomerie's Pundits; but it is high time that a resolute effort should be made to render them accessible to European science.» With so little material it could not be easy to draw reliable maps.
Saunders regards one »range» as dividing the Indus from the basins of the Tibetan lakes, which is not correct. He makes this range commence with the Karakash pass, and thinks that it should »be considered a part of the great system of mountains which surrounds the elevated Tibetan basin towards the south, and forms the water-parting between it and the basins of the Indus and Brahmaputra. Its northern base is throughout upon the great plateau which it supports and limits, while its southern base rests upon the upper courses of the Indus and Brahmaputra or Sanpu. That part which rises from the left bank of the Sanpu, has long been known to geographers as the Gang-dis-ri mountains. The western part has recently been explored by one of the Indian Pundits instructed by Major Montgomerie, and that surveyor has reported the name of one of the highest peaks to be AlingGang-ri. The name established on the Sanpu portion of the range is thus found
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