Southern Tibet : vol.4 / Page 539 (Color Image)

0539	Southern Tibet : vol.4

5 cub. m. per second. On its other side, the road enters a gorge just to the
right of the *gompa*. The valley rises to more open and undulated ground of gravel
and sand. A flat threshold opens the view to the next valley to which the descent
is gradual. Its name is *Choktse*, higher up, *Surkang*. The valley has a brook and
is comparatively broad. Barley is cultivated. The natives have also sheep and some
cattle, but no yaks. They are agriculturists not nomads. In the course of the day,
some of the common highland animals were seen, as kyangs and marmots.

N. W. of this place, we have to traverse a new protuberance of loose deposits
before we reach the next valley, which is a small tributary to the *Choktse*. From
this valley we have to ascend to the pass of 4,486 m., after which there follows a
bit of undulated ground, from which we behold the monastery of *Rabgyäling-gompa*,
situated, like the previous ones, on a hill on the right side of the next valley; at
the foot is the village of the same name. The brook of the valley now had clear
water, indicating that no rain had fallen in its area the last days.

On *August 19th*, we travelled 13.2 km. W. N. W., rising from 4,166 m. to
4,300 m. or 134 m., being a rate of 1:98. The same morphological features, as
usual, prevail. The road goes up steep hills, leaving to its right a deep-cut gorge,
on the other side of which the *gompa* is situated on the top of its dangerous terrace
of pebble and shingle. On the top of the next protuberance, the road is comfortable
between clay hills, in ravines and along cornishes, but soon it again goes down to
a considerable valley with houses and barley fields on both sides of the road. This
extensive valley, directed to the S. W., as usual, is called *Rildigyok* in its upper
course and *Chang-tang* in its lower. From its little brook we ascend the next
protuberance, the road being as steep as on the eastern side. On the top of this
protuberance we have to cross several deep and wild ravines, tributary to *Rildigyok*.
Two of them were comparatively large and took time to cross. *Camp CCCCLXXVI*
was pitched in a valley called *Karu-sing* with grass and a spring, but no inhabitants
and no cultivation. This valley forms a shallow depression in this plateau-land.

On *August 20th*, we had 10,8 km. to accomplish in a W. S. W. and S. W.
direction rising from 4,300 m. to 4,478 m., or 178 m. being at a rate of 1:61.
We were at a considerable height and in the nights, the temperature was very near
the freezing point. But we also were at a considerable distance from the deep valley
of the *Satlej*. Only along the large river, there is a constant fall towards *India*.
On our road we have to cross all its northern tributaries and the protuberances
between them. Therefore, it is continually up and down, and never a plain or a
*maidan* gives a rest. One has hardly crossed one of these tributary valleys, when
the next appears at a short distance. Therefore, the road becomes twice as long
as it is, as the crow flies. And the interminable ascents and descents are very
fatiguing to the animals. The valleys are chiefly cut down through deposits of clay

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