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| 0343 |
Southern Tibet : vol.2 |
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OCR Text
Montgomerie makes the following correct observation: ¹ ›Streams from glaciers
are always noted for having exceedingly dirty water, from the action of the glaciers
on the rocks and earth in contact with them. Those who have travelled in glacier
regions are hardly ever mistaken in deciding as to whether a stream comes from a
glacier or not. The Pundit had been acquainted with glaciers all his life. His
evidence as to the water would tend to show that the main branch of the river
rose among glaciers, and he says that he saw the glaciers.‹ On the other hand
Montgomerie supposes that the northern tributaries do not come from glaciers, —
on account of the colour of their water. This is true as far as the Maryum-chu
and some other northern tributaries are concerned. But such rivers as the Tsa-chu-
tsangpo, Chaktak-tsangpo and others, are, at least to a considerable extent, fed by
glaciers. As to the main branch and source of the Brahmaputra one could never
expect anything else than that it should be fed by unusually extensive and mighty
glaciers. And here Nain Sing's observation and Montgomerie's conclusion were
correct.
Where is now, according to Nain Sing's report, the source of the river? ²
Montgomerie does not leave us in the least doubt. It is already given in the title of
the quoted article: latitude 31¹/₂°, longitude 82°. This agrees almost exactly with
the geographical situation of Tamlung-la, which indeed is the point farthest west in
the whole system of the Brahmaputra. The brook going down from Tamlung-la
belongs to the Chema-yundung, and thus we have obtained a new proof that the river
which Nain Sing calls the main branch of the Brahmaputra is Chema-yundung and
not Kubi-tsangpo, so much the more as the description in the text agrees with the
map. Or in other words, Montgomerie places the source of the Brahmaputra at
some 8 miles S.S.W. of the western end of Gunchu-tso. From this point, Tamlung-la,
originates indeed a little tributary to the Chema-yundung, which is itself a
tributary.
Under such conditions we are surprised to hear that Chu-Nago is called ›the
first northern tributary‹ and Chachu Sangpo (Tsa-chu) the second‹. Maryum-chu ought
to be the first tributary if Chema-yundung were the main river. ³
It must be said that from Montgomerie's excellent and conscientious analysis
of Nain Sing's report, it was not, however, easy to tell where the real source was
situated. It seems that the co-ordinates given should be sufficient. But at another
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