国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

322

THE FIFTH CROSSING.

Our road to Camp 393, at 4 656, follows the S.E. foot of the Chomo-uchong and crosses the little threshold Kule-la, 5 o88 m high, where the living rock consists of quartz. Here one enters the tasam. The pass is so far important as it is a water-parting between the Raga-tsangpo and a little direct tributary to the Tsangpo; on the southern side its slope goes steep down to that valley. It is joined by a great tributary from the N.W., in the background of which a part of the Chomouchong is to be seen. At Semoku, which is a station on the tasam, the height is 4 596 m. From here the tasan continues to the west through the broad valley of Sa-chu-tsangpo and Saka-dsong. Our road has a more northerly course to the village of Ushü, where the fifth crossing comes to an end.

The climate of April was anything but settled. The mornings could be fine and clear, but at noon heavy clouds would appear, accompanied by hard wind from S.W. or west. On April 3 there was snow-fall and hail both at Chunit-tso and on the Nima-lung-la, and on April 5 the whole northern side of Lunpo-gangri was whitened with freshly fallen snow. About April 20 there were frequent snow-falls, especially round Gyäbuk-la. In the beginning of April the Buptsang-tsangpo was still covered with thick ice, though there was always an open channel, and a little spring flood from melting river-ice was just about to set in. The weather was often stormy and the prevailing wind S.W., though it varied very much in different valleys. During several days one could observe that an almost stationary cloud hung over the Kanchung mountains, while the snow-covered summits of Lunpo-gangri remained perfectly clear.

Animal life was represented by the usual specimens. Round Chunit-tso there were kyangs and goa-antelopes, drinking from the fresh-water springs on the shore. Wild geese were numerous. Kyangs also appeared in the broad Buptsang-valley, and along the banks wild geese, ducks and gulls were often seen. Hares and foxes were seen on the Samye-la. In the mountains north of Gyäbuk-la the wild yak is said to live.

Nomads are rare as before. At Chunit-tso only one or two tents were seen in a valley, as well as a salt-caravan. South of Nima-lung-la one tent was pitched, and at Camp 373 another. A few shepherds were seen with sheep and yaks. At Camp 374 a party of travelling nomads were met, coming from Tradum and going to Gertse. Near Camp 375 we reached 13 tents belonging to poor nomads, possessing 3o or 40 sheep each, or, at the most, i oo. Up to Amchung we saw 6 tents along the Buptsang-tsangpo, most of them at the left side of the valley and in the mouths of tributaries. Many pasture grounds were now empty, as the nomads had gone in search of better grass further north. The section between Camps 378 and 379 especially was said to be well inhabited during the summer. Near Camp 379 there were now only 5 tents with flocks of sheep and yaks. On the road to Camp 380 2 tents were passed and near that camp 4 tents were pitched. A great salt-caravan of 35o yaks was seen crossing the Samye-la on its way to Pasa-guk, where a salt-market is held in summer. On both sides of the Samye-la there were many signs

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