TIBETAN STORMS 
1057 
perceive its eastern extremity. The two giant mountain- 
chains gradually approached each other in the far per- 
spective ; still there was always a gap left between them, 
in which lake and sky appeared to meet and touch one 
another. The lake curved first to the north-west then 
to the south, and so seemed to bar our advance. W e did 
not know which shore to follow, the northern or the 
southern ; but finally chose the former, a decision which 
cost us two extra days. 
LAKE NO. 20, LOOKING NORTH-EAST 
The snowy mountains are the continuation of Arka-tagh 
Meanwhile we encamped (No. XXXI.) beside the lake 
in a spot where there was tolerable herbage. The lake 
seemed to be deep, for the water was a blue-black colour, 
and the hills on its western .shore came down abruptly 
towards its margin. It was another self-contained lake 
without outflow, for its water was bitter salt. We had 
therefore still another pass to get over at its eastern 
end. So far as we could see, this was probably the 
laraest of all the salt lakes. But not a sign of human 
beings. 
