Southern Tibet : vol.4 / Page 304 (Color Image)

0304	Southern Tibet : vol.4

*Dagtse-tso* was said to be to the N. 45° E. from the camp, and could be reached
in two days on horseback. To the N. 28° E., a region called *Murtsang* with a
lonely tent, was visible. Below this region, were the extensive ice-sheets mentioned
above and shown on the map. The northern mountains are coloured in reddish,
pink, yellowish, violet or light greyish tints: these colours being most pronounced
where the rock is solid, and more undecided in the screes and fans. One has to
deal with several parallel ridges and flat peaks. Lowest down, there are hills of
debris, above them small ridges pierced by transverse valleys, and above this, a
very irregular and deformed system the main range of which culminates in *Keva*.
This range is thus the water-parting between *Bogtsang-tsangpo* and the *Kunglung*
plain, and between the *Dagtse-tso* and *Kung-tso*. The range bounding our latitudinal
valley to the south, had been continuous all the way from the valley of *Ngosang*, but I
could not tell how far it continues to the west. In the east it seems soon to come to an
end. At *Camp XCI* we were only a two days' march south of my route of 1901.
Our remaining road to *Ngangtse-tso* was now said to pass by *Nadsum, Sumju,
Shala, Gurmo, Chugo* and *Kemar*, or six days distance. Some of the names were
never found, but the distance calculated according to the speed of yaks, was correct.
The district *Kemar* was not found here, though it may be situated at the western
or S. W. shore of *Ngangtse-tso*. I had spoken of the desirability of staying for
some weeks of the coldest time at some favourable place, and the Tibetans had pro-
posed *Kemar*. But now they said it would be much better to continue to *Kovo*,
a village with stone huts and cultivated ground, where everything could be obtained
at very moderate prices. On horseback, *Kovo* would be 5 days from *Kemar*, but
we would need 9 days with our yaks. By taking this road, we would have to
camp at the following places reckoned from *Kemar*: *Natamchen, Gyangtse, Kuramti,
Dopcha, Tingdang*, a high pass, and *Dorsang, Kamso-tangma, Mangse-sumdo* and
*Kovo*, which is the first permanent village on the way to *Shigatse*. On this occasion,
neither I nor any other European had ever heard the name *Kovo*, so I did not pay
more attention to it than to other unknown names mentioned to me by the Tibetans.
Later on, or on *April 18th*, 1907, I would however, have my *Camp CXLIV* at
this village, the name of which is better written *Govo*, situated on the *Pachu-tsangpo*.
The information in this particular point was, therefore, perfectly correct. When
returning north in April, *Govo* was indeed the last permanent village I passed. But
the distance is greater than 9 of our ordinary marches. The pass mentioned by
the Tibetans, may be *Chang-la-Pod-la* in the *Pabla* Range of the *Transhimalaya*.
But it may as well be some other pass on the road. The fact that the other names
mentioned above, were not heard by me in April, only shows that there is a road
across the ranges of the northern *Transhimalaya* from *Ngangtse-tso* to *Govo* which
is absolutely unknown.

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