a third Journey to the Yang-tze 173 
obtained a grand view of a big snow mountain on the main 
watershed due south, but its name I could not ascertain. 
I had seen this same snow peak from the mountain to the 
west of A-tun-tsi, and its position is almost due east of that 
village. With the exception of Pei-ma-shan, some miles 
to the south, it is I believe the only snow mountain between 
the Mekong and the Yang-tze, south of Batang ; and con- 
sidering the abnormal height of the snow line, it cannot be 
less than 21,000 feet, and may be considerably more. To 
the north and east the view was very different, for here 
_ was spread out at our feet a sea of blue mountains with 
dark lines of forest marking where the deep troughs sepa- 
rated crest from crest of the mountains of Ssu-chuan. 
Our route still lay northwards across the heads of 
several small valleys, but we had left the bare stony slopes 
behind and were amongst the shrub vegetation again. 
Not far to the east rose a great cliff of a bright red colour, 
glowing in the evening sunlight, and forming a very con- 
spicuous landmark. Fragments of this rock scattered about 
showed that it was a sandstone or arkose. 
Camp was pitched in the next valley at an altitude of 
about 15,000 feet, just on the edge of the larch and fir 
forests. A heavy snow-storm assailed us as we were putting 
up the tents, but it soon passed and a brilliant night followed. 
I found it difficult to sleep at these altitudes and was rest- 
less in consequence, though I managed to keep fairly warm. 
Next morning frost glistened on everything, and the larches, 
sere and yellow, looked very pretty in the sunshine. Two 
curiously-shaped limestone peaks, separated by a low saddle, 
were conspicuous objects to the west, and beyond them was 
a higher peak covered with snow. 
At midday a long descent brought us at last to the first 
signs of habitation, and here we found a hot spring. Con- 
tinuing through forests and gorges, the deciduous-leaved 
trees finally gave place to Pzxus and scrub oak, but before 
long trees ceased altogether, and we entered the arid 
regions once more. In the middle forest, at an altitude of 
about 10,000 feet, I found a red-flowered saxifrage growing 
on the rocks in deep shade. 
The Mo-ting Tussu, a tall, strongly-built Tibetan with 
a wrinkled pleasant face, came out to meet us and led me 
