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

Webber places the source of the river on the very Gurla-mandata itself! It is an
irony of fate that the real source of the river is, if transferred to Webber's map,
situated where he has the legend: »Snowy Ranges unexplored.»

The only parts of Webber's map which are correct, as for instance the lakes
and Samo-tsangpo, are taken from the Stracheys and Nain Sing. Even the upper
course of the Brahmaputra has a striking likeness with Nain Sing's representation,
although Nain Sing must be excused, for he never travelled along this part of the
river. He has three southern tributaries which are just as short and insignificant as
Webber's. In some respects Nain Sing's map is much better, although he never saw
the river. Another feature on Webber's map seems also to be taken direct from
Nain Sing, namely, the range stretching N.E. from Gurla, which on Nain Sing's map
is drawn much darker and stronger than even the Transhimalaya, — though it does
not at all exist. It is hard to believe that two travellers should sketch at the same
place a range which does not exist in reality.

The red route itself makes extraordinary undulations which do not agree with
the relief and configuration of the ground. One gets the impression that no map
was made and no diary kept and that the whole trip was put together from memory,
which had weakened during 40 years. If Webber, by Chapter XI in his book:
Gurla Mandhata and the sources of the Brahmaputra has proved anything, it
is that he has never been at the source of that river. The first he sees after having
crossed the watershed is that all the streams trend towards the east, and all the
ridges slope towards the Manasarovar! And still Webber's book is written in such
a charming and sympathetic style that one easily forgives him that his discoveries go
straight against both physical and geographical laws. As a sporting trip, his and
his comrades' journey was clever, courageous and admirable. As geographical re-
search it does not satisfy even the most modest modern demands. The fact is,
as I have proved above, that Webber never had the faintest idea where the source
or sources were situated. But so far as one can trust his fantastical map, it is true
that no European had ever been so near the Tamchok-kabab as he.

This trip took place in June 1864. Later on the same summer they again
went up the Kali river with the intention of crossing by the Kuti pass into Tibet.
On the north side of the watershed they followed the Duryumpti (Darma-yankti of
Strachey) river, »a source of the Satlej», and came to Gyanima. Two marches brought
them to a deep valley called Jaidam. »No sahib had ever been here before.» On
the way back over the Dhura passes, they followed the same route as the Stracheys
and Winterbottom in 1846 and 1848. He mentions the deep ravines to the north
of the Milam ghat and says they had been formed by the head waters of the Satlej.