FLORA OF TIBET OR HIGH ASIA, 159 
of snow, though 18,000 ft. high. The intention was to cross 
Tibet from west to east with the special object of determining 
the identity of the rivers; but various misfortunes befel the 
party, and they returned, after making a circuit, from Chorul 
Cho, the most south-easterly point attained, without accom- 
plishing their main object. 
The minimum thermometer fell to +8° Fahr., or 24° of frost, 
during the night of June 16th at an altitude of 17,500 ft. They 
travelled in a north-easterly direction by Mangtza Cho and 
Lake Yeshil Kul (81° 45’ and 34° 50’), thence eastward to about 
82° 25’, where the country was simply alive with antelope * 
females and their young. Here was plenty of grass and a 
moderate amount of fresh water. From this point they went 
southward to Chorul, about 82° 45’ and 32° 30’, and in several 
places there was a profusion of grass, but fresh water was often 
scarce. The return journey began here, and terminated, so 
far as Tibet was concerned, at the Kone La in November. 
During this journey twenty-four thousand square miles of 
territory were surveyed and the heights of seventy-nine peaks 
were determined. Great altitudes were reached in many parts, 
and Napo La, next to the last pass crossed, is 18,800 ft. high. 
Captain Deasy makes few allusions in his Narrative to the 
vegetation, except in relation to pasturage ; but Mr. Pike made 
a botanical collection, and the specimens were carefully labelled 
With localities and approximate altitudes, some of which were 
higher than any on record. This collection, combined with two 
or three others, formed the subject of an exhibition and pre- 
liminary paper at a meeting of the Linnean Society on April 
19th, 1900, and the approximate altitudes were referred to 
as absolute altitudes. Since then Captain Deasy has furnished 
corrected altitudes, and we shall return to this point when 
discussing the altitudinal limits of the flowering plants con- 
stituting the flora of Tibet. 
* Captain Deasy estimated that there were at least 15,000 of these animals 
in view at one time. Przewalski, it may be added (Peterm. Geogr. Mitth. xx. 
Pp. 43) states that enormous herds of animals existed in the Koko Nor region, 
including yaks, antelopes, gazelles, and sheep. Tchihatchef, referring to 
Przewalski’s account (La Végétation du Globe, 1. p. 612, in a footnote), credits 
the latter with saying that yaks roved there by millions! ‘En parlant des 
derniers [yaks] il dit qu’ils y errent par millions.” Such a statement, however, 
does not occur in the place cited; but we are not prepared to assert that it 
Occurs nowhere in Przewalski’s writings. 
