In the preceding chapters we have seen that much uncertainty still prevailed in Europe regarding the Kara-korum System, or Range, as it was called if mentioned at all. But as a rule it was left out when the great orographical systems were dealt with, and the Kara-korum Pass, which was well known, was still supposed to be situated on the Kwen-lun Range. The most important document on the Karakorum existing at that time was RITTER'S and GRIMM'S map (Pl. XXXV), for it showed the system not only approximately at its correct place, but it also represented it as consisting of three different ranges. And, last but not least, it rather clearly indicated its orographical connection and affinity with the Kailas and the Transhimalaya. Most of the geographers of the time seem, however, not to have been aware of the existence or importance of this map, which in several respects was many years before its time. And, after all, KLAPROTH'S map of Central Asia, published three years after RITTER'S, overshadowed it as far as the Kara-korum Ranges are concerned, though, on this particular point, it did by no means improve it. A little map was issued in a new edition' with the mountain ranges marked out. It reaches only to Nagar in the north and is of no particular importance. It is nearly the same as Pl. XIV in Vol. III. In i 849 B. H. HODGSON published his sketch map of the Himalaya showing the standpoint of the knowledge regarding the general topography of that system and representing the Kailas as a semi-circular range north, east and south of Lake Manasarovar, which was indeed a very primitive idea, especially if compared with the maps of RITTER and KLAPROTH published several years earlier. Still HODGSON'S map of the Himalaya was published also in Germany, and is here reproduced as Pl. II.2
Into the confusion prevailing in Europe regarding our system, clearness and order were brought about by the two excellent English explorers, Major ALEXANDER
I Ost-Indien mit den Inseln, entworfen und gez. v. Fr. Stülpnagel. Gotha 1849. I :18500000. 2 Geographische Skizze vom Himalaya zur Übersicht seiner natürlichen Eintheilung von B. H. Hodgson Esq. 1849. Reduzirt und ins Deutsche übertragen von Theodor Schilling 1851.
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