Southern Tibet : vol.4 / Page 522 (Color Image)

0522	Southern Tibet : vol.4

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On *August 2nd*, we continued down the *Satlej* which already here is a magni-
ficent river, travelling, as hitherto, on its right bank. The direction is W. N. W., the
distance 7.9 km., the fall 50 m. or to 4,295 m. at *Camp CCCCLXI*, being a rate
of 1:158. The road goes along the base of the lowest terrace. To our left are
splendid meadows of intensely green, fresh grass, and at some distance, the river.
The bed of the *Satlej* which, above *Tirthapuri*, has received a tributary called *Gyama*
from the left, is here more flat and shallow in accordance with the valley which is
more broad and open. Caravans of yaks and single horsemen, on their way to
*Gyanima*, crossed the river at well-known fords.

After a few kilometers, we pass the mouth of the considerable right tributary
valley by which the river, *Menser-chu*, comes down. Here it seems to come from
N. 28° E. A few km. higher up on it, is *Menser*, a station on the *tasam* or high
road. The river was said to have two feeders from two different valleys. *Menser-chu*
now had a breadth of 18 m., an average depth of 0.5 m., a velocity of about 1.5 m.
and a volume of 13.5 cub. m. per second. Two small branches east of it carried
3 cub. m., so the whole river had about 16 cub. m. per second.

From here the road continues nearly west along the base of the terrace, still
with luxuriant grass along the *Satlej*. The large river, which thus has got another
considerable addition to its volume, sticks to the left side of its valley. Four very
sharply marked terraces are seen on the left slopes, the highest perhaps 100 m.
above the river. The road then traverses yellow ground of alluvial clay. At a
projecting part of the terrace, called *Gerik-yung*, was a well-known camping place,
as could be seen from the remains of caravans. A short distance below this point,
the *Satlej* enters a rocky gate and begins a new narrow passage of its course. Just
above the gate, a large tributary joins the river from the south. It is called *Halchor-chu*
and is said to come from the two valleys, *Minchen* and *Minchung*, and from *Gyanima*
and *Shayok*. A Lama who accompanied us, pretended that *Halchor-chu* was as big
as the *Satlej* itself, which could not be determined from our route, but may be true.

From *Gerik-yung*, Pan. 545A and B, Tab. 103, was drawn. To the north and
N. E., in the foreground, it shows the still low and flat beginning of the range which
farther to the N. W., separates the *Gortang River* from the *Satlej* and is a part
of the *Ladak Range*. It is, indeed, so low that a series of high Transhimalayan
peaks are visible above its crest. The perspective of the *Transhimalaya* disappears
to the east and E. S. E. In the foreground, the terraces may readily be discerned,
pierced by northern tributaries. To the S. E. and S. S. E. there are also terraces.
About south is the extensive valley of *Halchor-chu*, and to the right of S. 31° W.,
we get a glimpse of the narrow gorge of the *Satlej*.

On *August 3rd*, we marched 9.5 km. to the W. S. W., sinking 27 m. only, or
to the 4,268 m. of *Camp CCCCLXII*: the rate of fall is thus 1:352, showing that

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