Southern Tibet : vol.4 / Page 87 (Color Image)

0087	Southern Tibet : vol.4

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From *Camp X* eastwards the ground rises decidedly, and one does not need
to be in doubt any more. During four and a half days' marches we come to
higher and higher ground. The distance from *Camp X* to *Camp XI* is 20.5 km.
E. S. E., and the rise is 42 m. or at a rate of 1:488. This fact seems to indicate
beyond doubt that the Lake of *Aksai-chin* must be at a lower level than *Camp X*.

The branch of the brook which was crossed at a short distance east of the
camp, was much bigger than the first, though it only carried about 2 cub. m. per
second. Here the current was comparatively fast. The bottom of the bed was hard
and consisted of sand and clay. Not the slightest trace of erosion terraces had been
cut out. The depth was, at its maximum, one foot. On both sides several shallow
beds without water were crossed. The moisture at their bottom seemed to indicate,
that they had carried water a short time ago. Probably these beds change their
position from time to time, otherwise terraces would needs be formed. Obviously
the brook had carried a large volume of water during the summer. By far the
greatest part of this water comes down from the high ranges to the north, which
are covered by eternal snow, and follows the transverse valleys which open themselves
into the great latitudinal valley. The hard S. W. wind which now prevailed, nearly
stopped the current in some branches, and at one place a little lake had been formed
in this way. Most of this hydrographic system, which is a very important feature
of the latitudinal valley, remained to the south of our day's march and of the next
two. The valley is rich in grass, especially to the left of our route. The soil is
hard clay with some fine gravel on the surface. The latitudinal valley is very broad
in this region, or at least 12 km. The nearest mountains on both sides are relatively low,
those to the right are red, those to the north greyish green. The direction of our
march is nearly east where the straight line of the horizon is very distant.

The chief branch of the brook is out of sight most of the day. It is, there-
fore, marked with a dotted line on the map. It may be that its course it situated
farther south, and that it actually flows nearer the base of the southern hills. This
would be caused by the northern mountains being higher and their screes richer in
debris, thus forcing the brook southwards. The ground is now everywhere covered
with grass growing in small tussocks or fagots. It is yellow and hard after the
first frost and only in the centre of every fagot the straws are still green and soft.
This is a regular steppe, and, I believe, the most favourable region I have ever
visited in Tibet. One cannot imagine a more hospitable region to penetrate in the
inhospitable Tibet. The ground is even and sufficiently hard, there is any amount
of grass, there is fuel and water, and there are antelopes and kyangs. It is, there-
fore, a good plan to remain in the latitudinal valley to let the animals recover before
beginning the diagonal crossing of the difficult country. The ground is now sandy,
as sand and grass generally go together. At the lee side of every grass-tussock there

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