FLORA OF TIBET OR HIGH ASIA. 153 
of their track across Tibet to China was between the thirty-fifth 
and thirty-sixth parallels; whereas Captain Bower and Dr. Tho- 
rold’s route was mainly south of the thirty-fourth parallel. 
From the ninety-fifth meridian their general course was north- 
eastward, skirting the north shore of Koko Nor (100°), and 
thence to Sining and Lanchau, and down the Hoangho to Peking 
and Tientsin. 
Captain Wellby’s opening words of his Narrative of this 
marvellous journey are appropriately repeated here :—‘ Through- 
out the journey across this land we generally followed valleys, 
nullahs, and dry beds of rivers. After marching some 120 miles 
from Lanak La, we saw immense snow-ranges, running east and 
west, both north and south of us. The north range was par- 
ticularly conspicuous with an abrupt massive peak..... For 
four months we saw no vegetation higher than an onion, and for 
nearly four months we were at an average height of 16,000 ft. 
For more than fourteen weeks we were without seeing any sign 
of mankind, and should have been much longer had we not 
providentially met a Tibetan caravan travelling at right angles 
to our route on its way from Lhasa to China. The distance we 
covered from Leh (78°) to the Chinese frontier town of Tankar 
(101°) was very nearly 2000 miles. It took us nearly five months 
and a half.” 
By June 22nd, or little more than three weeks after starting, 
they had lost from exhaustion twenty-three mules and ponies, 
leaving only sixteen, and all their sbeep were dead; yet since 
leaving Lanak La they had not travelled 200 miles. Vegetation 
was exceedingly scarce; grass just beginning to sprout. In other 
places they found “ boortsa” (Zanacetum). Previous to this they 
had found a small white butterfly at a camp over 16,000 ft., anda 
brown one was seen a month later. At these high altitudes— 
16,000 ft. and upwards—“ it was astonishing to find the thermo- 
meter registering 100° Fahr. in the sun, while at night-time there 
Were sometimes 25° of frost.” On July 27th, camp 68 (637), they 
crossed a river (in about 87° 30’) which took its rise in the hills 
close by. The bed of it was half a mile across, and it was the 
largest body of running water they had seen. ‘“ Everywhere grew 
good grass, flowers, wild onions, and other vegetables, and yak and 
antelope were abundant.” A week or so later they again came 
Upon good grass, fresh water, onions, rhubarb, and game. All 
Went well until Aug. 10th, when, in consequence of the exhausted 
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