82 Address. [Feb. 



With reference to the question of the hydi-ography of S. E., Tibet, 

 which was briefly discussed in last year's address, I may note that Mr. 

 Needham writes in the Proc. B. G. 8., that the idea that the soui-ce of 

 the Dibong lies very far north of Sadiya is erroneous, and that from 

 information he has received from many Mishmis, the source is near the 

 Tibetan town of Aliipo, which lies ou the northern slope of a high 

 range known as Taseni and about 11 marches, or some 130 to 140 miles, 

 from Nizamghat. 



In the " Transactions and Proceedings of the JRoyal Geog^-aphical Society 

 of Australasia" Mr. Gr. S. Streeter has given an interesting sketch of the 

 country and people and of the mineral and vegetable products of the 

 tract of country in the vicinity of the Ruby Mines and Northern Shan 

 States. 



Tibet. The impenetrable has ever an irresistible attraction, and 

 Lhassa is more than ever the point de mire of ardent explorers. At 

 least three parties have been on their way towards it during the year, 

 but, so far as present information goes, without success ; though it may 

 be noted that rumours were current in the Eastern parts of Tibet that 

 the Russians had reached Lhassa in Februai'y last, but of the fact there 

 has been no confii-mation. 



The journey of which we have fullest accounts, is that undertaken 

 by Mr. W. W. Rockhill, formerly Secretary to the American Legation 

 in Pekin, who set out from that place in December 1888 and has given 

 a short but interesting narrative of his travels up to August last, which 

 will be found in the Proc. R. G. 8. for December last. He travelled 

 disguised as a pilgrim in Tibetan dress and explored some new country 

 about the Kuen Lun Range, in the neighbourhood of the Arumye-Kor 

 Pass, near the Tosu Nor, and the Nomoran Ala Pass, near the Alang Nor. 

 At Barong Dsassak he heard that the Russian expedition to Tibet had 

 reached Lhassa and decided to go through East Tibet via Ohamdo, 

 Batang and Litang. At Jye Kundo (Kegido of Pandit A. K), his 

 troubles with the Lamas commenced, and he had to abandon his luggage 

 and make for Tachienlu, and thence to Chungking in Ssuchuan. He 

 made surveys of all routes and has apparently gained a considerable 

 amount of knowledge of hitherto unexplored country, where his route 

 diverged from those followed by Prjevalski or the Pundit A. K. It is 

 satisfactory to find that he speaks in high terms of the correctness of 

 the latter's survey, though he finds fault with his spelling of names of 

 places. It is to be hoped that the fuller account of his travels, which 

 he offers to the Royal Greographical Society, may be given hereafter. 



From Globus we leai'n that Joseph Martin left Pekin for Lanchow 

 and Sin-ning, with the intention of reaching Tibet, via the Kuku Nor. 



