48 Report on Trans- Himalayan Explorations, fyc. [No. 1, 



running from Thok-Jalung through, various gold fields to the great 

 Tengri-noor, or Nam-tso-Chimbo lake, and thence to Lhasa : several 

 traders had been met with who had actually travelled along this 

 upper road, but they were all rather reluctant to tell the Pundits 

 much about it, being afraid of spoiling their market. Having the 

 above information to go upon, Major M o n t g o m e r i e decided upon 

 sending the exploring party to Pudok, and thence through the 

 districts of Eawung and Tingche, to the north of the great Aling- 

 Gangri group of peaks, which were discovered last year. 



From Thok-Jalung the exploration was to be carried, if possible, 

 along the upper road to the Tengri-noor lake and thence to Lhasa ; 

 failing that, to take the route through Majin and Shellifuk towards 

 the Taclum monastery. 



The Chief Pundit required a rest after his last expedition, 

 and the 3rd Pundit was consequently selected for the work. 



This Pun dit assumed the character of a Bisahiri, and taking a 

 few loads of merchandize started in April with a party of real 

 Bisahiris (or men of Koonoo) whom he had induced to accompany 

 him. He made his way from Spiti, through the upper part of 

 Chumurti and La dak, to Demchok on the upper Indus. Here the 

 3rd Pundit measured the velocity of the Indus by throwing a 

 piece of wood into it, and then noting how long it took to float down 

 300 paces. The velocity turned out to be 2 T \ miles per hour, with a 

 depth of 5 feet, and a breadth of about 270 feet in the month of 

 July. From Demchok he went northwards through Churkang and 

 Booksum, (or Pokjung), to Pudok. 



Churkang was found to be a favourite place for holding monthly 

 fairs. Pooksum turned out to be a large standing camp where one 

 great annual fair only is held, but that a very large one, the Jong- 

 pon (or Zongpon) always attending it in person. 



Pudok has hitherto never been actually visited by any European, 

 for although Captain H. Strachey reached a point about 12 miles 

 to the east of the Fort, and Captain Gr o d w i n- A u s t e n another point 

 about the same distance to the north, they were neither of them able 

 to advance any farther, and could never get an actual view of the 

 place itself, owing to the jealousy of the Jongpon who resides there, 

 and governs this most north-westerly district of Tibet. 



