Southern Tibet : vol.4 / Page 412 (Color Image)

0412	Southern Tibet : vol.4

soft sand with some fine gravel, and here we cross two or three erosion beds from
the southern and S. E. valleys. A little farther on, we enter the valley coming from
S. E. Just at its mouth, there is good grass at the base of the hills to the right,
together with *yapehan* and snow. And here *Camp CCCIV* was pitched. The
panorama that unfolded itself from this place is seen on 394A and B, Tab. 69.
To the S. 58° E. is the pass, from which this valley begins and which we had to
traverse. To the N. W. and N. N. W., are some of the mountains at the north side
of the large latitudinal valley.

On *January 15th*, the road continues for 11.0 km. between E. S. E. and S. E.,
up the valley, the ground rising 113 m. or at a rate of 1:98, as *Camp CCCV* has
a height of 5,058 m. After a temperature of —39.8° in the night, the sky was clear
and blue, and there was no wind in the morning. We follow the broad, open
valley, the soil of which still consists of soft, reddish brown sand and very fine
gravel. The mountains at both sides are rather low. About half the ground is
snow-covered, in deeper furrows the snow is sometimes two feet deep. *Yapehan*
grows the whole way, grass is sparse. To our right, a picturesque snow-group
becomes more and more hidden as we proceed. We camped at the right terrace
of the principal watercourse of the valley, as the grass was not bad and snow
plentiful. The surrounding mountains are seen on Pan. 395A and B, Tab. 70 with
the pass to the S. E. Thrice in the course of the day, antelopes had been seen;
no other animals, but numerous tracks.

On *January 16th*, our march goes 10.3 km. E. S. E. The first 4.2 km. lead
us to the pass, the altitude of which is 5,161 m., being a rise of 103 m. and a rate
of 1:41. From the pass to *Camp CCCVI* at 5,095 m., we have 6 km. and a
descent of 66 m., at a rate of 1:91. The minimum temperature was —34.4°; the
day clear and without wind. The severe cold and calm weather accompany each
other. The features of the valley are the same as the day before. It is broad
with irregular mountains of moderate height and a reddish colour on the sides, the
soil is soft sand and fine gravel; sometimes there is grass in patches, most of the
ground is snow-covered, and in ravines and furrows, it may be one or two feet
deep. The pass is flat and open. To the south and S. W. there is a plain or depression
bounded, on the west, by mountains, and with a small lake in our neighbourhood.
To the S. E., the slope is comparatively steep to begin with, but soon the ground
of the valley we now follow to the east, seems to rise very slowly in the direction
of our march; probably this valley drains to the little lake we left to our right.
The soil is soft sand with patches of good grass. To our right is the picturesque
snow-group we had seen before, now quite near to our route. To the east, the
valley is comfortable for a long way. To the south it would have been difficult
to proceed, as we had here the continuous range to which the high snow-group

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