Southern Tibet : vol.4 / Page 484 (Color Image)

0484	Southern Tibet : vol.4

*Camp CCCLII* was pitched in an erosion bed just below its western terrace of red clay. The bed was directed to the N. N. E. and then seemed to turn east- wards. It contained snow. The grass was good and fuel abundant. On *March 13th,* we stayed. The temperature was at —12.8°. It had snowed the whole night and still snowed at 8.30 o'clock a. m. The whole country was quite white and nothing could be seen of the surroundings. The wind suddenly ceased in the evening, *March 12th,* and the night was calm. During the 13th, the clouds were extremely thick, but at 9 o'clock p. m., the weather was absolutely clear again. The wind was not strong and no storm came. The next night the minimum temperature was —24.0°, and *March 14th* began with an easterly wind, which at noon turned to S. W. and in the evening became strong. The snow lay rather thick everywhere in the morning of the 13th. In the course of the day, a part of it disappeared. In the morning of *March 14th,* only half the ground was snow-covered and at noon, only one tenth. But the sun was visible in spite of small white clouds here and there. On account of the very dry air, the snow very quickly evaporates.

Our progress, *March 14th,* took us 11.6 km. E. S. E., the ground was falling eastwards 34 m. or to the 4,534 m. of *Camp CCCLIII,* being at a rate of 1:341. We had, therefore, really crossed a water-parting west of *Camp CCCLII.*

As soon as we had left our erosion bed and come out on more open ground, the view to the E. S. E. through this latitudinal valley was open for several days, and only far away, low hills were visible above the horizon. It was still impossible to tell in what direction this valley fell, but it seemed to be eastwards, as all trans- verse furrows we crossed, turned about N. 30° E. We, therefore, had the bed of the chief watercourse of the valley to our left at a distance of 1 or 2 km. and it seemed to be broad and shallow. There is a very large number of small tributaries from the southern hills. All of them contained snow along their western terraces. The hills to the right or south are of moderate size. They are snow-covered, whereas the northern hills are bare. The latter are higher and are also traversed by many small valleys. The principal bed goes nearer to the northern side of the valley. The floor of the latter is slightly undulated. Its breadth is some 15 km. The ground is comfortable for the march. The grass becomes meager to the east. We followed no road. Antelopes and hares were numerous. Near *Camp CCCLIII,* we met three shepherds driving some 400 sheep westwards to a place called *Takgom* at a day's distance. A valley with surrounding mountains to the N. E., was called *Kung-takar,* where a tent was situated. A projecting hill farther east, belonging to the northern range they called *Kung-tsakma.* Eastwards, we were said to have one day's march to a large lake called *Tong-tso* or *Tongka-tso.*

Pan. 433a, b and c, Tab. 79, gives an idea of the view around this camp. S. 63° E. begins the base of the southern hills, which continue all the way, past

National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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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