yaks to Rahbut to bring his luggage across the pass, but these men soon consumed their supplies and returned to the camp. A second party succeeded, and Ram Singh arrived when I had nearly completed my observations, for the determination of the heights and positions of the principal peaks within my range of vision. He had had a needlessly long journey, but after a day's rest at Gombaz he set to work. My observing station was at a spot a few score feet above the dome-shaped structure, on fairly level ground. The altitude was 12,230 feet ; the position was in 37° 32' 59" north latitude, and 75° 45' 56" east longitude. The longitude assigned was obtained by triangulation from peaks fixed by the Pamir Boundary Commission. The probable error in longitude does not exceed a few seconds of arc.
At Gombaz I was visited by Munshi Sher Mohammed, who was stationed at Tashkurghan, where he looked after Macartney's fortnightly post between Gilgit and Kashgar. His visit in itself was welcome ; the present of fat fowls which he brought with him was most acceptable, and the information he gave me concerning the people by whom I was surrounded was full of interest. I found him an intelligent and instructive companion, and through him I subsequently obtained, also, some information about the inhabitants of the Mariong country (wrongly called the Mariom Pamir) .
To my regret I was unable to learn anything concerning the route or routes leading towards Raskam or out of Mariong, beyond which I was at a loss how to proceed. The country seemed to be an unknown land, but probably the ignorance which every one professed was assumed in obedience to official instructions. The official method was to obstruct by withholding assistance and information, but I resolved to find out for myself what others would not reveal. That there were routes I had little
IIIFカラー高解像度
