1898.] S. C. Das— Travels on the Shores of Lake Yamdo-Croft. 
273 
ways leading in different directions, our good namo kindly accompanied 
us a sliort distance to show us the way to Sam-yea. There were other 
villages scattered in this upland plain, which passed we came to the little 
village of Tan-tha, situated at the foot of the La, we were about to ascend. 
Climbing up a short distance, we came near some well-constructed re¬ 
cluse’s cells, now empty. These from a distance appeared like some 
monastic establishments. Gopon showed to me the monastery, situated 
on a dome-shaped hill near the lake, but half a mile off from the place. 
The ascent from here was very tiresome. But all these fatigues van¬ 
ished when the height gradually widening the horizon brought sublimer 
scenes to my enchanted eyes. I really thought that the view from the 
top of Thib-la, of the snowy country of Tibet, of her far-famed lake and 
river, and of an immense congregation of snowy mountains which skirts 
like silvery fringes, on the vanishing line of the dark blue sky in the 
horizon, cannot be equalled by the sceneries of the glorious Himalaya. 
The numerous windings of this scorpion lake , as Yamdo is called, the 
countless hills and mountains which they surrounded, and the waving 
line in the horizon where the snows of Noijon Kang-Zang mingle with the 
blue summits of distant mountain ranges, were all visible from Thib-la. 
The valley of the deep and meandering Tsanpo, the dark pine and hr 
forests which here and there broke the monotony of the bleak mountain 
scenery, and the snowy mountains of Lhobra, bore a striking contrast 
to the scenery on the other side. Both defy description. On the 
southern flanks of this lofty pass, which appeared to be more than four 
thousand feet above the lake, a kind of broad-leafed plants, called yeshi 
kogo, grow. The dried leaves rustled as they were blown by the wind. 
The wind blew so strongly that I found it difficult to stand. This 
increased the fatigues of this exceedingly trying journey along the 
steep slopes of Thib-la. The down-hill journey was worse than the 
up-hill one. At 5 p.m. we arrived at the village of Thib. There were 
about ten houses in this little village, all clustered together and only 
separated from one another by narrow lanes and barley fields. Heaps 
of hay and unthreslied barley lined these little avenues. There were 
some willows of stunted growth in the village. We were conducted to 
the house of a well-to-do villager. The namo received us very kindly. 
One of her husbands was in the field reaping barley crop. Her elder 
husband was gone to Lhasa. We were accommodated in the upper floor 
of her house which was spacious enough. A part of the house was under 
repair. The night was very fine and the skies bright, and the little 
village with its white-washed houses and fields was bleached with 
moonlight. 
J. i. 35 
