CHAPTER V.
IN THE LATITUDINAL VALLEY SOUTH
OF THE KWEN-LUN.
On October 2nd the march continues in a straight line E. N. E. for i 6.7 km. The ground rises imperceptibly or only 56 m., as Camp XX VIII is at a height of 5,137 m.; the rate is, therefore, as r :298 or perfectly level to the eye. It is, therefore, difficult to tell in which direction the several extremely shallow waterless erosion furrows are directed which are crossed by the route. Sometimes one got the impression that they went diagonally across the plain to the N. W., but that is uncertain. Everywhere there is grass and yapkak, a real highland steppe. The landscape is extremely monotonous as is usually the case in latitudinal valleys. The single points of interest are the snow-groups to the north and south, though they had been in sight for several days, the Deasy Group all the way since the threshold west of Yeshil--köl. Near Canzp XX VIII there were two fresh-water pools. In such regions as these, hard rock is, of course, not within reach. From Camp XX VIII a complete panorama, 44A and 44B, Tab. 8, was made all around the horizon. To the S. 200 E. and S. 3° W. the culminating peaks of the Deasy Group are seen. To the S. W. and W. S. W. from where we come, no mountains are visible chiefly due to the unevenness of the ground. To the S. 82° W., west, N. 81° W. and N. 7o° W. only the highest summits of different mountains are visible. Then follows a gap to the N. W., and to the N. N. W. is the northern snow-covered group. To the N. E. is a protuberance of the soil hiding the mountains behind. To the E. S. E. and S. E. are moderate hills bounding the latitudinal valley to the south.
On October 3rd the route is towards the N. E. and N. N. E. for i 5.8 km. Camp XXIX has a height of 5,091 m., so the ground sinks 46 m. or as r:343. In comparison with Camps XX VII and XXIX, Camp XX VIII was, therefore, highest being situated at the base of the cupola-shaped but flat protuberance in the middle of the latitudinal valley. The wind was again from the west and the minimum temperature for the night was —22.0°, which may be regarded as sharp for the season.'
I All the temperatures and other meteorological observations are to be found in Volume VI, corrected and controlled by Prof. Nils Ekholm.
IIIFカラー高解像度
