THE CHAKCHOM-LA. 105
To begin with, the ascent up through the valley was gradual ; the landscape opens up like an arena or a flat trough, which is joined by several tributary valleys from east and west. These valleys are also broad and shallow. To our right we have a little lake one or two km. long, frozen all over and seeming to be rather shallow. Its name is Chakchom-tso. Wild yaks were very common in this high valley ; on the slopes of the Seo-yunna Range a herd of some 8o or 90 individuals was grazing. The grass was good in this region. Our Tibetans assured us that the grass was better here than in the district of Gertse, though the latter is farther south and not quite so high. Flocks of sheep brought hither from Gertse become fat. That is also the reason why some 4o or 5o tents from Gertse visit this region of Chang-tang every year. Some of them, for instance our two Tibetans, remain here six months. They had arrived 19 days ago.
The ascent to the pass in front of us increases, but is never steep. We behold one saddle or protuberance after another to the south and every time one hopes that it is the pass. But there is always a new saddle rising behind it. Finally we are on the top of Chakchom-la, and have thus reached one of the highest passes we so far had crossed. There is a cairn built up of small granite blocks. The view to the south is very far-reaching. In this direction the country seems to be rather accentuated, a labyrinth of yellow, reddish and black ranges and groups without visible plains between. Only to the S. S. E. and at a distance of I o km., there is a little depression the center of which is occupied by lake Dungtsa-tso, said to be fresh and now completely frozen over. Still one gets the impression that the country south of the pass is generally somewhat lower than to the north, as later on proved to be the case.
At the height of 5,433 m., at — 10° and with a strong S. W. wind, Panorama 70A and 70B, Tab. 11, was sketched. Beginning from the west we see only a little foreshortened part of the Seo-yunna Range, which regarded from the considerable height of the pass, seems to be rather insignificant, and not very much higher than the pass itself. Most of it is hidden by the pass-range, and above the northern continuation of the Seo-yunna Range we see a flat peak to the N. 44° W., belonging to the mountainous tract that has the same name as the lake, viz., Goiizo. On this Gomo Peak there is a little snow. To the N. I 3° W. at the horizon is still visible a last glimpse of the mighty snow cupola which had been in sight for about two weeks — we could be pretty certain that we saw the last of it now. Its name is Tsang-tsa-kang as mentioned above, and as entered on Pl. 4. To the N. E. and east the distant view is hidden by the heights in our immediate vicinity, belonging to the range on which we are standing. The blackish mountain group to the S. E. is Ngemba-dungtsa. A black mountain to the S. I o° E. is called Chipchakarmo, and is situated quite near and west of Camp LX V. To the right or west
14. IV.
IIIFカラー高解像度
