Southern Tibet : vol.4 / Page 397 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

0397	Southern Tibet : vol.4

outlet to the ocean, is, therefore, more than four times as steep as the slope from
the Tibetan plateau-land without an outlet to the ocean.

From *Kisil-unkur* the road is comparatively easy on the slopes of the right
side hills of the uppermost part of the valley. They consist of soft red material.
There are the tracks of many caravans to and from *Eastern Turkestan,* and there
are, as hitherto, the carcasses of many dead ponies. From the height of the pass,
which my Ladakis called *Dapsang,* a name also given to the country to the N. E.
of it, it is difficult to get a clear conception of the general orographical features.
In the clear and fine weather, we had, however, a magnificent view of the great
*Kara-korum* giants to the west and S. W. To the N. E. the country seemed to be
most easy for marching. To the east and S. E. there is a labyrinth of red wild moun-
tains of moderate size. We had nothing else to do than continue to the N. E. by
the slowly falling erosion valley which, in this direction, goes down from the *Dapsang
Pass,* and which seemed to come to an end in a small self-contained basin between
the areas of the *Shayok* and *Kara-kash.* Between our valley and the valley of the
uppermost feeder of the *Shayok,* we have a range running N. E.—S. W. and parallel
to the range in which the *Kara-korum Pass* is situated. These ranges are only of
secondary importance and constitute rather superficial features of the great northern
*Kara-korum Range* which runs N. W.—S. E. and even S. S. E. The water-parting
crest of this range is very irregular and runs in the most capricious, zigzagging
windings. The *Dapsang Pass* belongs to this crest, and it is therefore, a water-
parting of first class importance. Such is also the case with the *Kara-korum Pass.*
A third pass of the same rank, is the *Chang-lung-yogma* which I had crossed in
1906. From north to south the absolute altitudes of these passes are, according to
my observations: the *Kara-korum Pass* 5,658 m., the *Dapsang* 5,428 m., and the
*Chang-lung-yogma* 5,780 m.

As seen from the *Dapsang Pass,* the whole country was now covered by
snow, only the more exposed hills, peaks and ridges being swept free. In all valleys,
depressions and erosion furrows, the snow lay deep, one meter and more on our
route, and on the surface it had been arranged like dunes of sand. The valley
down from the pass which at first sight had seemed to be so easy and comfortable,
therefore, proved to be very difficult and tiring for loaded animals. Sometimes we
had to follow the crests and slopes of small hills. At some places where the snow
was deep, its surface was hard enough to bear the ponies and mules, but, as a rule,
they broke through the crust. Having proceeded along the crest, we finally went
down into the valley where, on the right terrace of its bed, the snow had been swept
away to a breadth of 1 or 2 meters. It was easier to follow all the windings
and bends on the edge of the terrace than to march in the furrow, where the snow
was treacherous. By and by our valley becomes broader and finally opens out into

National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

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National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

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National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books