LAKE DISCOVERED 179 
ing to the southward, through the pine forest that grows 
there, by which I might travel in the direction of Mo- 
si-mien without getting onto the regular track. This 
I was anxious to do if possible, as I should thereby 
avoid any contact with the lamas, who were, I knew, in- 
clined to be troublesome, and who are found in swarms 
on the roads near Ta-tsien-lu. Unfortunately I could 
find no road, the southern slopes being covered with 
virgin forests of pine which I was unable to penetrate. 
I discovered during the day a lovely lake of the 
clearest and purest water, and very deep. On the banks 
quantities of sulphur were lying. It was surrounded 
on all sides except the north by precipices many 
hundreds of feet deep, and had the appearance of 
receiving the overflow of a lake above by a waterfall 
at the south end. I can only conjecture the presence 
of such a lake, but the formation seemed strongly 
to indicate it. Its elevation I made to be 14,070 
feet above the sea, and its overflow supplies a tributary 
of the river flowing through Ta-tsien-lu. It took 
me two hours to walk round, so that a rough idea 
may be formed of its size. At the north end were a 
number of Tibetan prayer-sticks, with thin strings and 
papers fluttering in the wind. I saw some salamanders 
in the lake, and on the precipices round it were some 
birds much resembling the chough. 
