Southern Tibet : vol.4 / Page 230 (Color Image)

0230	Southern Tibet : vol.4

of it is an insignificant depression called *Chipcha-nangmo*. Our Tibetans told us
that a summer road is crossing this region, which, however, on account of the
scarcity of water, is never visited in the winter. The hills immediately south of the
pass are called *Chakchom-maro*. At a greater distance in the same direction, there
is a region called *Singdo-fungmar*. A depression to the S. S. W., not far away,
was called *Taka-marmo*. To the S. 11° W., there is a comparatively high mount
called *Singdo-rene*. To the W. S. W., there are hills of a yellow colour, said to be
known under the name of *Raddu-tseka*.

*Dungtsa-tso* with its surrounding mountains presents a fascinating picture.
Between S. 37° E. and S. 17° E. it is visible on the panorama. The slope down
from the pass on its southern side is unusually steep, so much so that one prefers
to walk on foot. Such steep gradients are rare in this flat plateau-land and met
with only at the sides of high passes. All the way up the soil is perfectly rotten
from rabbits' holes. The descent afterwards becomes more gradual, and we cross
rounded undulations and protuberances of the ground between shallow, dry water-
courses. In the open parts of this trough, kyangs were grazing. Finally we have
to traverse a little ridge, rather steep and taking one hour to cross. At its southern
side there is a valley with a brook going to the *Dungtsa-tso*. *Camp LXIV* was
pitched at the left side of this brook which is fed from springs. The grass was very
good all around. Our Tibetans said that such good grass would not be found anywhere
on our road to *Bogtsang-tsangpo*, and they advised us to spend a day here, especially
for the sake of the yaks. They showed us where we had to march the next day between
*Ngemba-dungtsa* and *Chipcha-karmo*, where the country seemed to be fairly open.

The next day's march, on *November 19th*, took us 10.3 km. to the S. S. E.,
whilst the ground sloped from 5,042 to 4,914 m., or 128 m., being the same as
1 : 80. It may seem surprising that I contented myself with such short marches, but
the reason was the enormous absolute altitude, which is fatiguing both for men and
animals, and which makes it necessary to spare the forces of the latter so far as
possible. And, after all, the principal thing on such a journey straight across Tibet
is not simply to cross it as quickly as possible, but to get acquainted with and see
as much as possible of the country and to insure its success by slow marches. I
even regard it as a great advantage to pitch my camps rather near to each other.
The greater the number of camps is on a diagonal crossing, the greater becomes
the number of absolute altitudes determined, meteorological and other observations
and of panoramas. One gets an opportunity to digest more thoroughly all the extra-
ordinary impressions and experiences one meets on the journey, and the general
result becomes more full and rich.

From *Camp LXIV* we cross the ice-band from the springs and follow the foot
of the western hills in a south-easterly direction, having the northern shore-plain of

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