Abstract
THE Izvestia (1885, v.) contain another letter from M. Potanin, describing his interesting journey to the Upper Hoangho. Leaving Si-nin (Tsin-ning) on May 2, the Expedition visited the Humbum Monastery—a trading-place for Russian goods brought from Urga and transported further to Thibet—and crossed a high ridge of mountains, the pass having an altitude of no less than 12,000 feet above the sea. Following the valley of the Lan-chou (Dun-ho-tsian on Prjevalsky's map), they ascended to the plateau of Rchandza-tan, about 10,000 feet above the sea, leaving to the north the snow-clad mountains of Naryn-jamba, where Prjevalsky spent the winter of 1880. Only Tanguts inhabit this elevated table-land, and a few lamas who occupy several monasteries. Descending from the plateau into a deepvalley, Naryn-jamba, which joins that ofthe Urung-vu River, they were soon compelled to climb another plateau of the same height, the Ganja-tan, also peopled by Tanguts. The Amni-Tunglyng Mountains raise their snow-covered summits towards the north. On May 16 the Expedition reached the Labran Monastery, situated at an altitude of 10,000 feet, and still containing several hundred well-built houses, some of them with two and three stories. The Gue-guen—a religious chief who is also chief of the neighbouring Tanguts—resides at this rich monastery. From Labran, MM. Potanin and Skassi again climbed a high plateau, and followed it until they arrived at the Renu-kika Pass. A high snow-covered ridge extending west and east on the left bank of the Tao-ho, was seen to the north; it is inhabited by a tribe of Tangut robbers—the Tebu. The Tao-ho flows along a valley more than half a mile wde, between picturesque craggy mountains, the slopes of which are thickly wooded. The town Ming-cheu, situated in the same valley, could thus soon be reached. Leaving it on June 16, the Expedition easily reached also the Yali-san Mountain, which is the watershed between the tributaries of the Tao-ho and the Yang-tse-kiang, the ascent to the watershed offering no difficulties. The further journey to Si-gu-sian was made in an alpine country, intersected by deep and narrow valleys, which have a flora offering some notable differences from that of the Si-nin and Min-cheu region. The town Si-gu-sian is situated in the region of the monsoons. The further intentions of the Expedition were to go to Niang-pin, leaving M. Berezowski at Si-gu-sian to make collections of mammals and birds.
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Geographical Notes . Nature 33, 304–305 (1886). https://doi.org/10.1038/033304b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/033304b0