Southern Tibet : vol.4 / Page 445 (Color Image)

0445	Southern Tibet : vol.4

the territory of *Rudok-dsong*. In the beginning of December, they had arrived at
*Rio-chung*, and intended to stay to the middle or end of March. The grass was
quite sufficient for their 150 sheep. According to their experience, unusually little
snow had fallen this winter.

From *Rio-chung* or *Camp CCCXXIV*, Pan. 410A and B, Tab. 74, was sketched.
To the N. W. is the open prolongation of the latitudinal valley containing *Shemen-tso*.
From there and the whole way around across north and east to S. E., are the moun-
tains bounding the valley to the N. E. To the S. S. E. and the S. E., is the pro-
longation of the valley. The rest of the panorama belongs to the mountains on the
S. W. side of the valley.

On *February 9th*, we marched 11.3 km. S. S. E. The ground rose 27 m., as
*Camp CCCXXV* had an altitude of 4,901 m., the rate was as 1 : 418. The tempera-
ture of the night was at —28.6° and the weather was calm and clear. The hunters
had advised us to stick to the left or southern side of the valley where the ground
was said to be more even, at the right side the ground was more undulated and
hilly. We, therefore, first crossed the large erosion furrow with the pool, keeping
to the south, and then turned S. E., leaving the mouth of a considerable tributary
valley from the south, to our right, in the background of which rather high moun-
tains were visible. A flat slope from the southern hills, is crossed, and the direction
then becomes south, following the base of the southern hills. East of us an extensive
plain extends between the mountains. Its ground consists of dry, barren grey clay,
which has become modelled in terraces and furrows by wind and erosion. Soon we
came across an ice ribbon between the lowest terraces, at first about 10 m. broad,
then gradually broader south-eastwards, and sending arms and branches in both
directions. This ice was formed by a little brook from an open running spring.
Several cairns had been built in this vicinity, and at the spring a stone wall was
erected, from which hunters shoot animals coming to drink. Here and there are
small patches with tolerable grass. Farther on a second little hillslope is to be
crossed, only some 20 m. above the floor of the valley. To the N. 75° E. from
this point, a large right tributary valley joins our valley. In its lower part, immense
ice-sheets are seen, and in its background there is a considerable snow-covered
range, the *Aru-tso* Range. In the angle between the two valleys, there is an iso-
lated mountain. The whole way up the terraces at both sides of the valley are very
well-marked, at about 12, 15 and 20 m. respectively above the floor of the valley.
They have been eroded by the rivulet of the valley. We continue on the western
side of the ice ribbon which gives the illusion of a real river. The space between
the terraces and the ice is overgrown with grass. The right terrace is of clay, the
left of fine gravel. The old terraces are more distant. At the side of a second
spring, there is also a wall for hunters. Of wild animals now only hares were to

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