ACROSS THE CHINO-THIBETAN BORDERLAND i8i 



white carpet around. I made the pass, 14,250 feet altitude, and 

 the tree-Hmit about 11,800 feet. 



The flora above 12,000 feet altitude is purely alpine and 

 similar in character to that of the region around Sungpan and 

 elsewhere throughout the Chino-Thibetan Borderland at the 

 same altitude. Mcconopsis integrifolia occurs in countless 

 thousands ; also, to my pleasant surprise, the dark scarlet- 

 flowered M. punicea. Although by no means so plentiful as 

 around Sungpan, there were many thousands of this beauti- 

 ful herb scattered around. Primroses are most abundant ; 

 Primula vincce flora ascends to 13,000 feet, where its place is 

 taken by the lovely P. nivalis and another closely allied species. 



On crossing over I photographed the pass and then 

 descended with all possible speed to the miserable hostel of 

 Wan-jen-fen, alt. 13,700 feet, where our lunch awaited us. 

 A little below this hostel a few bushes of Willow, small-leaved 

 Rhododendrons, and Caragana spp. first appeared and 

 became abundant as we descended. Soon Larch and occa- 

 sional Spruce appear, and at 11,300 feet altitude trees are 

 fairly numerous. A shrubby, evergreen Prickly Oak is char- 

 acteristic of these wind-swept mountain-sides, the golden- 

 brown undersurface of its leaves rendering it most conspicuous. 

 (This Oak is almost as beautiful as the Golden Chestnut of 

 California {Castanopsis chrysophylla) , and I am very pleased to 

 report its successful introduction to cultivation.) 



In addition to the shrubs mentioned above, dwarf Juniper, 

 Spiraea, and Sallowthorn also abound. This moorland country 

 is very interesting and shows unmistakable signs of a drier 

 climate than that enjoyed by the regions on the opposite side 

 of the pass. 



A torrent which rises near the head of the pass is soon 

 augmented by tributaries and quickly becomes a roaring un- 

 fordable stream. The mountain-slopes close in, and at the tiny 

 hamlet of Kao-tien-tzu the road plunges into a ravine. The 

 sides of this ravine are wooded, Larch and Spruce being abun- 

 dant, with miscellaneous shrubby vegetation. The elegant 

 Syringa tomcntclla, a Lilac with branching panicles of fragrant 

 flowers, is very common. On issuing from this ravine we 

 crossed a tributary torrent, more turbulent in character than 



