1870.] Report on Trans- Himalayan Explorations, 8fc. 55 



Several salt lakes were passed and others heard of. He de- 

 scribes the celebrated Chak-chaka salt lake as being all but con- 

 nected with the Hagong-tso (lake, ) and stated that an area of about 

 20 miles by 10 is all about on a level with those lakes. This space 

 is filled with salt, the water having evidently at one time covered 

 the whole. 



Borax fields were seen at Rooksum and Chak-chaka, and num- 

 bers of people were working on them. No gold or salt mines were 

 seen or heard of between Thok- Jalung and the Mansarowar lake ; 

 but numerous borax fields were seen, at one of which about 100 

 men were at work near a camp of some thirty tents. The other 

 fields were not being worked when the Pundit passed. The 

 borax generally was said to find its way down to Kumaon, Nepal, &c. 

 Altogether this portion of the third Pundit's route has brought 

 to light the positions of a large number of gold, borax, and salt 

 fields, testifying to an amount of mineral wealth, as to the value of 

 which we have hitherto had no information. In marching south 

 from Thok- Jalung the Pundit appears to have left the gold-bear- 

 ing rocks, and from the information he received, the line of gold 

 fields is continued more to the north ; but it is evident that this 

 part of Tibet contains an inexhaustible supply of gold. 



As to borax, there appears to be any amount of it to be had for 

 the digging, the Lhasa authorities only taking a nominal tax of 

 about 8 annas (or a shilling) for ten sheep or goat loads, probably 

 about 3 maunds or 240 lbs. Borax sufficient to supply the potte- 

 ries of Staffordshire and all Europe would be forthcoming, if the 

 supply from Tuscany should ever run short. 



The salt fields appear to be the source from which the hill -po- 

 pulation from Nepal to Kashmir draws the greater part of its sup- 

 ply of salt. 



Throughout his march, the Pundit was at an elevation of over 



15,000 feet, and yet an encampment was met with nearly every 



day. Thieves were numerous, and threatened the party several 



times ; but on seeing that the Pundit's party were armed, they 



i invariably went off again, not liking the look of an English gun. 



The party arrived at Mansarowar in safety ; and the Pundit de- 



( cided upon waiting for the Ladak Kafila, which was known to be 



I on its way to Lhasa. "Whilst there, the Pundit made a careful 



