(Nr. 89, Tab. ' I 5) showing the general appearance of the undulating plateau-land to the north and south before the weather concealed every distant view. Clouds and snow-mist came sweeping from the west and filled the arena-valley to the south of the pass. We had time to discern the ice-sheets of Claupta in the south, where we intended to camp. The road to this place crossed a plain or valley between two red ranges or ramifications of no great height. Some kilometers to the south of Chupta we had a real gateway between two other red ridges somewhat higher than the first. Beyond this gate, one gets a glimpse of the next arena-valley where the Tsering- nakta Lakes were said to be situated. This plain is bounded on the south by a reddish range of moderate height and irregular form beyond which the Bogtsang-tsanggo was said to run. Still farther south and beyond the latitudinal valley of the Bog-tsang-tsaiigpo a dark-blue range of greater height was rising, having a not very high, but still snow-covered and dominating peak. The view to the south was, therefore, very extensive and we saw our road before us in a straight line for three days' march. But then the snow began to fall, everything, even the nearest hills were hidden and the whole country became white. At the same time the view remained clear to the north, and it snowed only to the N. N. E.
A little valley goes down from the pass, receiving small tributaries from both sides. The descent is short, and soon we reach the quite level plain with some grass and hummocks. After 3.5 km. from the pass we are 192 m. below it, giving a rate of fall as I : i 8. Seen from the plain, the Gelam-lapsang Mountains give us more the impression of their being a range than from the northern side. To the N. W. the country is quite open ; it is a broad valley between small ranges with some rather sharp peaks. The plain falls very slowly to the south and is traversed by four watercourses, all containing ice but no water and probably coming from the western mountains. From the level ground a little knoll of chalk-limestone crops up with partly perpendicular sides and about 20 m. high. At this place which will be very easy to recognise for a future traveller, we had our Camp LXXVIII at a height of 4,784 m.
The snow soon disappeared from the ground, but remained on the hills. Hoarfrost covered everything, even the tents, ponies and yaks. In the afternoon it again began to snow, but next morning it had evaporated and only the northern slopes were still white. Here we met three Tibetans on horseback who had visited friends in the north and now were on their way home to their tents a two days' journey to the S. W. They told us that Tok-daurakpa was situated a four days' journey to the west. Regarding the ice-filled watercourses we had crossed, they were said to be the upper course of the Bogtsang-tsangpo, or at any rate, to belong to the hydrographie system of that river, which very likely was correct.
17. IV.
IIIFカラー高解像度
