On Ancient Central-Asian Tracks : vol.1 / 428 ページ（カラー画像）

0428	On Ancient Central-Asian Tracks : vol.1
中央アジア踏査記 : vol.1

0428

On Ancient Central-Asian Tracks : vol.1

中央アジア踏査記 : vol.1

242 EXPLORATIONS IN NAN-SHAN RANGES CH. XV

have made these very extensive open valleys very attractive

ground to nomadic tribes of early times such as the Yüeh-

chih, the later Indo-Scythians and the Huns.

But we all suffered a great deal from almost daily down-

pours of icy rain and sleet, and from the extensive bogs we

encountered at the head of the great valleys and even on

the broad watershed plateaux towards the Pacific drainage.

The natural difficulties were increased very considerably by

the helplessness of our Chinese ponymen and what I may

politely call their deep-rooted physical aversion from taking

risks. Again and again they made organized attempts at

desertion which threatened to leave us without transport,

but luckily they could be suppressed without frustrating

our plans.

By marches aggregating over 400 miles, we managed

during August to cross and survey in detail the three north-

ernmost ranges of the Central Nan-shan, all rising to snowy

peaks of i 8,000 to 19,000 feet, between the longitudes of

Su-chou and Kan-chou. In the course of these surveys all

rivers descending to the oases as well as the Su-lo-ho were

explored to their glacier-fed sources. The magnificent ice-

crowned range which divides the headwaters of the Su-lo-ho

from the Khara-nor and Koko-nor drainage was surveyed

along its northern face, and proved to rise both in height of

individual peaks (over 20,000 feet) and of crest-line consider-

ably above the northern ranges.

From the wide mountain-girt basin some r 3,000 feet high

containing the Su-lo-ho sources (Fig. 77), we made our way

over bog-covered uplands to the headwaters of the Ta-

tung river, where we touched the Pacific drainage. Thence

we regained the upper valley of the Kan-chou river and

国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ