APPENDIX. 457 



No. III.— NOTE ON M. KLAPROTH'S THEORY OF THE COURSE OF 



THE SANPO. 



Since my labors have not terminated so successfully as to furnish absolute proof of 

 the identity or non-identity of the Sampo and Brahmaputra* I might leave it to others 

 to form their own opinion upon the data furnished them in the foregoing' part of my 

 Memoir; for I do not suppose that many will incline to follow M. KLAPROTH, in claiming 

 infallibility for the Chinese authorities quoted by him. However, while stating the few 

 facts which I have yet to mention, I shall embrace the opportunity of pointing out, at the 

 same time, what circumstances have materially contributed to strengthen M. Klaproth's 

 arguments ; and on the other hand, I shall endeavor to collect the evidence, (in my opinion 

 very strong,) which, at all events, deserves to be weighed against the assertions of the 

 Chinese Geographers. 



With respect to the weight to be attached to their opinions, M. Klaproth himself 

 says, " ceux d' entre eux qui ecrivent sur la geographie donnent constamment des 

 details si minutieux qu'on ne peut donter qu' ils ne connoissent pas le plus grand fleuve de 

 leur empire." But since his Memoiref cannot be had access to by many, it appears in 

 every way advantageous to extract from it here the quotations by which he supports his 

 arguments. He says : — " voici un extrait de la grande geographie imperiale de la Chine 

 qui fera voir que le cours inferior du Yarou-dzang-bo-tchou du Tubet, ou de 1' Iraouaddy 

 de l'Ava etoit depuis long-temps connu des Chinois, et qu' ils l'appelloient Ta-kin-cha- 

 kiang. La geographie de la dynastie des Thang l'exprime ainsi :" — il porte aussi le nom de 

 Tsang (ou Dzang) ; Ies habitans du pays du Tian (le Yunnan) l'appellent Ta-kin-cha-kiang. 

 II vient de la partie la plus occidentale du Tubet. Selon la geograqhie du Yunnan, le 

 grand Kin-cha-kiang vient du Tubet, entre dans le pays de Miantian ou Ava, a cinq li de 

 largeur et va se jeter dans la mer. Houang-tchu-yuou, ancien anteur Chinois dit.| 



" On dit que les sources du grand Kin-cha-kiang ne sont pas tres eloignees du pays 



de Ta-wan (La Bactriane). Depuis les monts Lima et Tehha-chan jusqua l'extreme 



* The name Lohita, might perhaps be substituted with advantage when referring to the " Brahmaputra of 

 Geographers," since it does not appear that it is properly applied to the Sacred or Eastern Stream. 



t " Sur les Sources du liraltmaputra et de VIraoailily. 



! I extract what relates to this river only. 



A\ 3 



