On August 261h, we travelled westwards from Lopchak to Shipki. On the
left bank of the Sallej, the road goes on a cornice above the river for is short distance, until we reach a considerable valley from the south called Rokchi-chu, with a brook containing some 5 cub. m. of water per second. In this valley is the village Chiri. Korang is a village on the right side of the Sallej. Tsamdo is the difficult part of the passage with the cornice road and a mani. The road then continues at some distance from the river, crosses a deep tributary, and passes by the village of Chok with groves of trees and gardens. On its other side, we again go deep down to the little valley, Largyäp. The next villages, with cultivation, are Ye6u-pulsum and Lingchu-langa. One of the several manis was about I oo m. in length. Salve-chu is a very considerable valley from the south, with a bridge. Its brook had about 6 cub. m. per second. On its left bank, is the village of Shipki, and our Camp CCCCLXXXIII. This is the. last village on the Tibetan side. On the hills of the right side of the Sallej, is the monastery, Puri gompa.
On August 27th, we accomplished the last piece of road to and a little beyond the Indian frontier. The ascent to Shipki - la is not difficult, but stiff. It begins immediately from the village of Shipki, and the steepest parts of the slope are called Tak-melong and Yayur. The pass was said to be called Pimig-la, as well as Shipki-la. Its absolute altitude is 4,695 m. At Lopchak, we were at 2,982 m. The distance between the two, is 11.8 km., and the difference of height 1,713 m. From Lopchak to Shipki-la, the rate of rise is, therefore, as I :6.9.
About 1 km. west of this pass, which is higher than the surface of the Manasarovar, the frontier of India is situated, and the road proceeds past Namgya - rijing and across the Salle] to Poo.
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