1848.1 Narrative of a Journey to Cho Lagan, ^e. 1 1 1 



limity by the veil of clouds that obscures the more distant and lofty 

 parts, and so increases the apparent magnitude of the whole. 



Thermometer at 4 p. m. 60°, boiled at 194^° ; elevation 10,000 feet. 

 Changrew perhaps may be at the same height as the summit of Cheto 

 Benaik, 10,500 feet. 



The Bhotias of Chaudans, who accompanied me thus far, here took 

 their leave. I found them a civil and cheerfully working set of people, 

 and had no trouble whatever from them. Sumhyaki is a stout, amiable 

 and modest youth, deserving of more encouragement than the bottle of 

 rum and handful of tea which I was able to give him. The men of 

 upper Byans were assembled to relieve the Chaudansis, and equally 

 ready to give every assistance, with Zhobus, ponies, and porters for my 

 baggage. 



Patwari Durga Datt having inducted the Buddhas and Saydnas, 

 old and wise, into some idea of my designs on the lakes, they volun- 

 teered assistance, but also their own plan of operations, which after much 

 discussion, I was obliged to reject as incomplete and unsatisfactory, 

 their idea being to smuggle me past Taklakhar to Manasarowar, and 

 thence straight back again, which would involve much risk of stoppage 

 on the way out, before reaching the Lakes at all, and leave Rakas Tal, 

 and its communication with the Sutlej (if any) unexplored. Not till 

 late in the evening, I got hold of the right man, Rechung or Rechu, 

 Padhan of Kunti, from whom I derived information which decided me 

 in adhering to my original intention of going his way. According to 

 Rechu, there are two Passes at the end of the Kunti valley ; Lank- 

 pya Dhura, on the extreme North "West, and Mankshang, a little 

 lower down and more easterly ; both of them affording direct commu- 

 nication to the South and "West shores of Rakas Tal, and round that 

 lake, either way, to Manasarowar, without passing through such popu- 

 lous places as Pruang. The Lankpya Pass, in Rechu' s opinion, is not 

 stiffer than the " Lipu Lekh" of eastern Byans ; though he can't speak 

 to the state of the snow upon it at present, as none of his people have 

 crossed the pass since the bad weather, in which snow fell in the 

 village of Kunti, and which proves to have been identical with the con- 

 tinuous rain which detained us at Gala on the 18th, 19th and 20th 

 instant. The Kuntiyals are the only people here who know any thing 

 at all about the passes of western Byans ; all the other Byansis are 



