Southern Tibet : vol.4 / Page 67 (Color Image)

0067	Southern Tibet : vol.4

27

We were lost in darkness on account of these heavy black clouds. The change of
climate since *Chang-chenmo* was tremendous. The thunder was rolling over the
*Kara-korum* to the south. Such storms last for from one half to one hour. It is
of interest to remember that I, in 1896, at the very same season and in the N. E.
parts of Tibet, experienced exactly the same weather, which seems to indicate that
these storms sweep over the whole country diagonally from one end to the other.
It is difficult to say whether they play an important part or not in the denudation
and decomposition of the mountains, for the snow and hail that comes down with
them, very quickly evaporates, and does not contribute to the formation of brooks
to any degree worth mentioning. In spite of their regular occurence at this season,
the air is extremely dry, and water very rare. The brook we now followed, for
three days and a half in all, was the largest we saw for a very long time, or until
we reached *Bogtsang-tsangpo*. And we have seen how very small and tired, nearly
dying, this brook was. Its existence is, however, explained by its neighbourhood to
the mighty *Kara-korum*, on the other side of which the feeders of the *Indus* have
their origin. In the winter the brook is completely frozen and quite dead. Only
in the beginning of the summer, when the snows of the water-parting *Kara-korum*
melt, it will be in flood, though never reaching any considerable size. Farther N. E.
water becomes more and more rare, and sometimes it may be difficult to find a
sufficient supply for ourselves and the animals.

We cross a very low ridge of hills. There is no living rock to be seen, and
not a stone as big as a fist the whole day. Everything is dust or fine, sparse gravel.
Beyond the ridge the ground again is comfortable and even. Two sheets of yellow
clay, as even as the floor of a dancing-room, are passed. During a short interval of
clear weather one could get a glimpse of the surroundings. To the east and west
the country was perfectly open, indicating a latitudinal valley of the same kind as
those which are so common in central and eastern Tibet. It was, however, impossible
to see whether it turned N. W. and S. E. as would be expected from the general
position of the mountains in these regions, or whether the plain we crossed was
simply a local formation of the same kind as those which generally are called *Ling-
shi-tang* and *Aksai-chin*. From the first sheet of clay two peaks were seen to the
S. 46° E. and S. 48° E., the first of which was considerable, and covered with eternal
snow. But they soon disappeared in clouds. To the north, at a distance of some
10 km., reddish rounded ridges partly covered with probably fresh snow, were seen,
and to the N. W. at some 20 km. more considerable mountains with apparently
eternal snow.

Finally we approached the brook, the left erosion terrace of which was 3 m.
high, sometimes 5, and divided in two steps. The right terrace seemed to be here
at some 200 m. distance, — lower down even at 300 m. Between the two, the brook

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

Citation Information

OCR Text

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