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

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recommendation, and so they were received with great honour and kindness at Tashi-
gang. Here they stayed more than a month occupied with preparations for the three
months' long journey through the desert which begins from Tashi-gang and trying
to find some companions and a good occasion for a start.

›The third Tibet is called Tibet Proper, or by another name Butan, and in the language
of the country it is called Po. In its extension from west to east it is very great. It begins
from Trescij-khang and Kartôa¹ and stretches the whole way to China. From Trescij-khang
to the extreme frontier of China it is a journey of six whole months and somewhat more. In
the west this Tibet is bounded by the second Tibet or Lhata-yul; in north-east and east it is
bounded by China and by the low Tartary. To the north it is bounded by hard and desolate
places, being the way which leads to high independent Tartary and the kingdom of Yarkand.
In the southern direction it is bounded by some barbarian peoples who call themselves Lhobà
and who do not permit anybody to enter their country. In the south and south-west is a pro-
vince of Mogol's empire, called Altibari, beyond the Ganges. To the south-east is the king-
dom of Nepal. The third Tibet it so vast, that one needs six months good and continuous
journey between Gartok and Sining. Its breadth is very different in different places. The
province of Zang-tò, which is 2½ months across, stretches far to the north to the wild rocks
which are on the frontier to the kingdom of Yarkand, and to the impracticable mountains
which form a wall to high, independent Tartary or the country of the Dsungarians.›

This orientation, in a few words, is wonderfully correct and clear, and connects,
as it were, Desideri's own discoveries with those of Marco Polo.

On October 9th they start from Tashi-gang for the ›gran deserto›, accom-
panied by a Tartare Princess and her court, her officials and ladies, and an army
of Tartar and Tibetan horsemen and great caravans with provisions and luggage.
Desideri gives an excellent description of the picturesque and lively scenery this
tremendous company offered.

Two days' journey from Trescij-khang the party arrived in a ›valle deserta›
called Car-toa (Gartok) where they stayed till after the middle of October. He says:
›To begin with I shall talk of the Great Desert of the west, which stretches from
Cartoa to Ngari-giongar, and from Ngari-giongar sinks to Toscioà and from Toscioà
descends to Retoà and from Retoà takes you to the province and people of Zang-to.›

From Gartok they had for about 15 days rising ground to the north, and
arrived, on November 9th, at the very highest places which are to be passed during
the whole journey, in a part of the desert which is called Ngari. ›From these places
one goes on constantly sinking the whole way to the very city of Lhasa.›

The following passage of Desideri is interesting:

›The water which from the just mentioned high regions runs to the west, i. e. towards
the two above mentioned Tibets, is giving rise to the Indus; the other which streams to the
east, i. e. towards the rest of this great desert and towards the lake of Retoa, or, as it is in a
foreign pronounciation, Redoc, and towards the frontiers of the third Tibet, is giving rise to
the Ganges.›