As the ground gradually rises we finally become aware of a little lake to the S. E. A little farther on we again cross three well defined beach-lines and still farther on two large and several small ones. They prove that the lake, in the same way as L kor-tso and many other lakes in Tibet, has gradually dwindled in post-glacial time. We could be here some 20 m. above Camp V. The erosion terraces of the brook are, therefore, a more recent formation than the beach-lines which also were more rounded and worn by wind and water.
The rise becomes more noticeable as we proceed up between the red hills of grey, dense limestone. From here it looks as if a long, narrow neck of mud or clay projected far into the lake from its northern shore, though it is difficult to tell whether this simply is due to the ordinary mirage of these regions or not. The chief watercourse of the little valley was now dry, but not far from the pass there was a very small and perfectly clear brook, obviously coming from the last snow patches still left from the storms of the previous day. The rise up to the little pass is very gradual. On its broad and open saddle we are surrounded on all sides by comparatively low mountains (Pan. I8A and I8B, Tab. 4). To the N. E. is seen the valley by which we go down to Camp VI and Aksai-chili. Behind the mountains to the south the little lake is situated, now definitely hidden.
In the valley on the other side there is some scanty vegetation, the ordinary yapkak and even some poor grass. The valley is bounded by red, yellow and black hills of dark grey, dense limestone which is dominant in the whole . region. In the middle of the valley there is a very little brook winding in a gravelly bed between erosion terraces i or 2 m. high. Of animal life there were now only two Pa/akalops antelopes to be seen, and excrements of a wolf. Wild asses or /yang, we had seen only once. A few ravens were always following the caravan. The valley slowly turns to the north, and in the same direction an extensive plain seems to be situated, beyond which a mighty black range with eternal snow is visible. The brook sometimes vanishes in the gravel of its bed, but soon again reappears. A comparatively large side valley enters from the right. Grass and yapkak becomes more frequent, and was, for Tibetan conditions, abundant at Camp VI, where everything was to be had: grass, fuel and water. From the camp the view was more hidden than from higher up in the valley. Pan. 17A and 17B represent the surroundings of the place. The most interesting is the view of the north, where the continuation of the broad, open valley is seen, later on turning to the left and emerging on the great Aksaichin Plain. We had to proceed farther north to be able to see the high mountains belonging to the Kwen-lun System.
The day's march of September 7th was of great interest as it took us to a region of quite a different appearance than those we had left behind. The latitudinal valley of Camp V and the little lake had given us a presentiment of the great plains
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