Southern Tibet : vol.4 / Page 81 (Color Image)

0081	Southern Tibet : vol.4

35

and to the west and N. W. is the greater plain with which it stands in uninterrupted
communication. To the N. 37° W. is a very small round or oblong lake, the water
of which is salt as can be seen from the broad white ring all around it. It must
be extremely shallow as the surrounding ground is quite level. In its N. W. con-
tinuation there are two small round patches, now without water, as probably would
soon be the case with the first-mentioned lake. To the N. E. there is still another
small lake, the outlines of which could not well be discerned. It looked as if it
had been divided into two basins, though this may be an effect of the mirage, or
of low hills on its shore. At some places on its shore the ground was white with
salt. The Yurung-kash Mountains of the Kwen-lun now appeared a little nearer than
on Pan. 218. Just beyond the last-mentioned lake they were partly hidden by nearer
lower hills.

On September 10th our route goes 17.5 km. E. N. E., east and E. S. E. The
height at Camp IX is 4,914, or a fall of only 2 m. since Camp VIII. The ground
of the plain may, therefore, be regarded as practically level. The day was like a
summer day, without clouds and wind. Still the air is not absolutely clear, though
it is difficult to tell why. Because of the strong and intense insolation the ground
becomes rather hot and above it one sees the fine vibrations of the air like those
above a heated boiler. The hot air has a tendency to rise, and perhaps these ver-
tical currents take some of the finest and lightest particles of dust with them. If
this be the case the dust, however, does not reach very high into colder layers of
the atmosphere, for it is easy to see that the upper parts of the mountains are
sharper and clearer in outlines and colour than those near the base. Layers of air
of different temperature may also cause the very common mirage. Very often the
mountains seem to be reflected as from the surface of a quiet lake, where no lake
exists. Parts of the caravan marching at a distance appear double, as if they were
marching on the shore of a reflecting lake. The same seems to be the case with
kyangs and antelopes, which now are more common. The whole country appears
in light, aerial tones. No bright colours are to be seen, except the marine blue lake
of Aksai-chin, which soon becomes visible to the east, and the limestone hills to the
south, which are red. Otherwise the colours are softened and diffused. To the right
of our route the limestone hills continue, as steep as before and with more or less
projecting spurs. At one of them a curious pillar was standing and looked as if
it had been built by men, though it was only a result of weathering and erosion.

To the east the view is free and open as far as the eye reaches. We have
entered one of these characteristic longitudinal valleys which I knew so well from
regions farther east. This one is remarkable as it is in connection with the more
meridional Plain of Aksai-chin. It has been visited by Crosby and Anginieur in
1903, and one day's march farther east, by M. A. Stein on his journey in 1906—8.

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

Citation Information

OCR Text

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