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

channel between the lakes. To this he answered from Leh, June 12th 1911, literally
as follows:

»I. There was a great deal of rain in the autumn of 1909 at Gartog. But in the whole
autumn of 1910 there was more rain than the year of 1909 in all the places of Chang-thang,
and was wet for nearly 3 months. By cause of heavy rain brooks were as great streams and
dry brooks were also as streams and rivers. By crossing of such streams and new rivers some
men and tea loaded poneys died by the struck of rushing water. In the same season there
was also a rushing stream in the brook of Cheu-gompa, as I heard it in Chang-thang.

II. All the traders and caravans from Leh to Yarkend goes by the way of Morgho on
the East. They also passed by the way of Morgho in 1909 and 1910, as it is impossible to
travel by the way of Khomdan, the glaciers closed the road.¹

III. (A) In the autumn (Aug. & Sept.) of 1909 and 1910 some water flowed in Langag-
tso from Mawang-tso.² (B) In the last winter (February 1911) a reliable Lama Inhabitant near
Langag-tso came in Leh, and as I ascertained he answered thus: 'It is impossible to run out
water from Langag tso to any direction, because it stands lower and it is rounded by moun-
tains as a fort with wall.'

But I think these words are not sufficient for you and for your book; therefore I will
send our reliable man to Cheu gonpa & Langagtso, after his return we will write you in
details about them.»

More than a month later I received, unexpectedly, the following communication
from the British Trade Agent at Gartok, RAJ BAHADUR THAKUR JAI CHAND, dated
July 7th, 1911:

»I learned from Khuaja Gulam Rasul of Ladakh that you asked information regarding
the lakes Mansarowar and Rakas Tal and I have the honour to reply as follows: The two
lakes have not joined but owing to excessive rain in the two preceding years,³ the channel
joining them had expanded considerably, but it has now come to its former width.»

Both these distinguished orientals, who did me invaluable services during my
last journey in Tibet, are perfectly reliable men, and the fact that they tell the same
story puts the situation beyond doubt. Gulam Rasul first talks of a »rushing stream»
in the channel, and then he says that »some water» flowed from the eastern to the
western lake. From this it is clear that there must have been a communication in
1909 and 1910, although it is impossible to draw any conclusions as to the dimen-
sions of the water-course. Thakur Jai Chand says that the channel joining the lakes
»had expanded considerably» in 1909 and 1910, but »come to its former width» in
July 1911, which obviously means that it then was dry. For it is likely that even
in years of outflow, the channel is in function only during the wet season, August
and September. Thakur Jai Chand's report is, however, less clear than that of
Gulam Rasul, which may be owing to the circumstance that he had not been asked
to give me information.⁴