Southern Tibet : vol.4 / Page 646 (Color Image)

0646	Southern Tibet : vol.4

On *August 12th*, Pan. 287, Tab. 52, was sketched from a point 6.5 km. south
of *Camp CCXVIII* on the slope of *Gurla-mandata*. On this sketch we get the
first view of *Rakas-tal*, and see both lakes with the neck of land between them.
As usual *Kailas* commands the northern horizon. Pan. 291, Tab. 53, is drawn from
a pass west of the *Namreldi* valley.

From *Camp CCXIX* at *Chiu-gompa*, Pan. 295, Tab. 54, shows the monastery
on its hill. Pan. 294, Tab. 54, is a sketch from a point a short distance west of the camp
and shows the bridge across the *Ngangga*, or brook, which in some years carries the
superfluous water of the *Manasarovar* into the *Rakas-tal*. Pan. 297, Tab. 54, shows the
waterfilled part of the channel above the bridge. From a hill above, I drew Pan. 299A
and B, Tab. 55. It is instructive for it shows nearly the whole course of the *Ngangga*.
To the far left we see a part of the *Manasarovar*, and, at the base of the hill, the
*Ngangga* rivulet and the mountains bounding it to the south. To the W. S. W.
we can follow the winding course of the *Ngangga* down to the *Rakas-tal*, the
northern part of which is visible to the N. 79° W. This western part of the channel
was dry at my visit as I have explained in Vol. II. To the N. 15° W. is *Kailas*
in clouds, and to the N. 55° E. the *Pundi*. Pan. 298, Tab. 54, may be regarded
as a continuation of the one just described, though it is taken from another point
quite near the first. The *Pundi* appears again at the left end, and the ridge
of *Chergip-gompa*. Opposite, to the S. 77½° E., is *Camp CCXII*, the first on
the lake.

Pan. 300A and B, Tab. 55, from *Camp CCXX* gives a view of the *Kailas* to the
N. 39° W., the *Pundi* to the north, the *Pachung* and *Pachen* to the N. E. A part
of the lagoon *Ting-tso* is also in sight. Pan. 302, Tab. 55 is drawn from a point
between the *Pachung* and *Pachen*, giving a perspective of the *Gurla-mandata* to
the S. 23° W. and S. 28° W. From *Pundi-gompa* we observe Pan. 303, Tab. 56,
with a view of *Gurla-mandata*, and, in the foreground, the lagoon *Kurgyal-tso*.
From *Chergip-gompa* between *Camp CCXXII* and *Camp CCXIX*, the *Gurla* is
visible under a somewhat different aspect. *Cp.* Pan. 304, Tab. 56.

Turning our attention to the *Rakas-tal*, we have first to consider Pan. 296A
and B, Tab. 54, which is taken from a pass of 4,887 m. on the mid point of the
neck of land between the two lakes, thus being 285 m. above the surface of the
*Manasarovar* and 298 m. above the surface of the *Rakas-tal*. The view from this
point is magnificent. It is impossible, it is true, to get an adequate idea of the
outlines of the lake from one single reconnoitring like this, but this much at once
becomes clear, namely, that the *Rakas-tal* is still more framed with mountains than
the *Manasarovar*, that at least five narrow promontories are directed to the north
from its southern shore, that it has some three islands in its southern part, and that
it becomes narrower to the north.

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