Southern Tibet : vol.7 / 30 ページ（カラー画像）

0030	Southern Tibet : vol.7
南チベット : vol.7

0030

Southern Tibet : vol.7

南チベット : vol.7

10

than a hundred years after the great Venetian, the Bavarian adventurer, JOHANN
SCHILTBERGER, had some extraordinary experiences in the interior of Asia, and in
his narrative he at least mentions some mountains which are not very far from the
system now occupying our attention. He was probably born in 1381, left his home
in 1394, served in the army of Sultan Bayazed in 1396—1402; from 1402 to 1405
he accompanied Timur on his campaigns.

Amongst other things he relates in his narrative, is Timur's campaign against
»clein india»,¹ of which he says:

»Das ligt von siner hoptstat (Samarkand) vier monet tag weid. Und nach der zit
zoch er hinyn in das clein India mit vier hundert tusent mannen und zoch durch ein wüst,
die ist zweintzig tag weid lang. Da ist grosser mangel an wasser vnd kam dornach an
ein gepirg. Da zoch er acht tag ee er doruss kam. Und in dem gepirg ist ein weg da
must man die kamel vnd die ross vff bretter binden vnd musts abhin laussen. Dornach
kam er in ein tal, da ist es ajs finster das ainer den andern nit wol gesehen mocht by
liechtem tag, das weret vff ain halbe tagweid. Dornach kam er in ein hochs gepirg. Da
zoch er dry tag und dry nächt Inn. Und kam dornach vff ein schönen eben; die ligt vor
der hoptstat des landes . . . .²

The passage of half a day's journey is the famous Iron Gate, passed by
Alexander in 328 B. C. As all other early travellers, he has no sense for mountains,
he only mentions their existence. But his veracity is beyond doubt. VIVIEN DE
SAINT-MARTIN says of Schiltberger: C'était un homme simple et peu lettré, mais
ses récits ont un cachet de véracité qui inspire la confiance.³

Another traveller who, in 1404, made the personal acquaintance of Timur,
was CLAVIJO, the ambassador of Henry III of Castile. His narrative is valuable and
contains a good deal of reliable and correct geographical information. He mentions
the countries with which Samarkand is in commercial connection, and has heard of
India, Tartary, Cambalu, Cathay and other countries, but has not much to say of
them. To Khorassan he gives a very great, but rather vague, extension: »This
land of Khorassan is a great territory, which extends from Tartary to India.» He
mentions the Gates of Iron in the following words—August 25th, 1404, he has arrived
at a mountain:

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