is about I oo m. in length, but not well-built. At Tarchen-labrang several white tents of merchants were pitched. There were no buildings at this place, and we did not continue up the valley. Of the four monasteries surrounding the Kang=
rindoche, Nyandi, -u, Tsumtul Ju and Gyangta, I do not know anything of
the last-mentioned, which probably has a more hidden situation at the side of the pilgrims' road. I got the impression that the Gyangtagomj5a was situated in the upper reaches of the valley of Tarchen-labrang, through which a road comes down. At Tarchen-labrang we had an altitude of 4,7 I o m. In the background of the valley of Tarchen a part of the peak of the Kailas is visible. Then it disappears again until we have approached Khaleb at some distance.
At the N. W. corner of Rakas-tal or Langak-tso, a curious local wind was blowing, whirling up greyish white clouds of dust along the ground, whereas other parts of the plain were untouched by the wind.
We cross many dry erosion beds. The ground consists of clay and gravel and there are many bushes. The river from the Nyandi valley is streaming in its 6 or 7 m. deep bed, the erosion terraces of which consist of gravel, sand and small blocks.
From this place we had still 4 km. W. S. W. to Khaleb, Camp CCXXX, where the caravan was waiting, and from where the next crossing of the Transhimalaya was to start.
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