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Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

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MOUNTAINS N. AND S. OF THE UPPER RAGA-TSANGPO.

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visible and beyond it is Kedo-tasam, one of the stations of the high-road; S. 8o° E. is Sangba-la, and E.S.E. a snow-covered range Tagse-tao, the principal range between and parallel to the Raga-tsangpo and the great Tsangpo; one of its peaks has some religious importance like the Chomo-uchong. Luser is a flat, black mountain S. 74' E.; Sanglung-chechung is S.S.E. of, and quite near, Raga-tasam; straight south, a monastery, Chetu-gompa, with 15 Lamas, is said to exist.

The rise from Raga-tasam to the W.N.W. is as gradual as before, and Camp 162 is at 5 oo6 m. The valley, Yumshung, is here very broad and open, and its river is still called Raga-hloshung, or the southern main branch of the Raga-tsangpo. The ground, fine gravel and grass, is hard and comfortable; to the north the valley is bounded by low, rounded hills, beyond which is seen a high, black, rocky range with rugged crags. The river, Raga-hloshung, has not even half a cubic metre of water; it winds very much in its broad, shallow bed. It is joined by the two southern valleys Yumbo and Yumbo-gablung, which at their mouths give rise to swamps. Swamps are ordinary in the main valley and force the tasam to keep to the foot of the southern mountains, whereas my route follows the northern foot. On the northern bank of the Raga-hloshung the road goes over a ridge of small hills, where grey sandstone crops out. From the southern mountains comes Goche, from the northern Tagelung and Iri-sang, which, higher up, is in connection with the Tungsi-gunka. Iri-sang is a comparatively big valley coming down from the black range to the north, to which Lombo belongs. It is not at all surprising that the members of Ryder's and Rawling's expedition could not make out the orography north of this route, for a few profile lines across the whole system are not sufficient to follow and determine the extent and situation of the several ranges. It seems, however, probable that a range is situated between the northern and southern branch of the Raga-tsangpo, and that this range is the continuation of the one we crossed in Lungring-la. For it is not likely that Lombo should be connected with Lunpo-gangri, situated further west even if Lombo and Lunpo are only different pronunciations of one and the same word. The Tibetans very seldom give general names for whole ranges, and only use local names for parts of ranges. At any rate I regard it as pretty certain that a range extends south of the eastern part of Kanchung-gangri.

The mountains south of the Yumshung valley are not high; Tarchung, Tarchok-parva and Tarchok-tangbo are valleys from them. Talung, Nalung-dukchen and Nya-pangva are valleys from the north. To the S.W. the tasan rises to a threshold called Kule-la or Kur-la.

From Camp 162, Chosang-jung, the following mountains and valleys are observed: to the north a part of the black and rugged range of Lombo; to the N.E. low hills hiding everything behind; E.S.E. the snowy mountain between Raga and Raga-tsangpo; S. 2 2° E. a massive at the upper part of the valley Tarchung-pu; S. 20° E. a small isolated hill, Tosop-tevo, rising from the plain close by, and bey-

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