Travels of a Pioneer of Commerce in Pigtail and Petticoats; Or, an Overland Journey from China Towards India (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 edition. Excerpt: ...and across a deep narrow valley beheld the still loftier chain of the Great Taso range. The lower cliffs were bare perpendicular walls of yellowish limestone, above which the snow-covered peaks towered into the clouds which veiled their summits. These two mighty ranges, uniting to the north of this valley, extend for about Cn. YIII. THE TASO VALLEY. 239 100 miles north-eastwards, feeding the head waters of the Ya-long and Kin-cha-kiang by innumerable torrents; to the southward they extend in parallel chains for about 50 miles, finally losing their height and uniformity before reaching the Sui Shan, or snowy mountains, in Yunnan. Near the western base we entered a magnificent forest, the same which Hue describes as the finest he had seen in Thibet. The cedar and pine trees were of singular magnitude and beauty, the latter rising straight as " the mast of some tall amiral" to a height of 100 feet; from the branches hung weird-looking masses of withered moss like a giant's scalp-locks. Emerging from the gloomy shades of this forest, we descended into the long grassy valley formed by the fork of the ranges; which is a great breeding place for yaks. And while thousands of the queer-looking long-haired cows and their calves were grazing, the black tents and huts of the shepherds, with the wreaths of smoke curling up from the yak-dung fires, gave a promise of rest and refreshment which was not fulfilled. Anxious as we were for a day's rest to recruit our starved and jaded animals before attempting the heights of Taso, we found it impracticable, for we could procure nothing but tsanba, or meal made of bearded wheat roasted and ground, and butter tea. We still had plenty of tea, and flour enough to last for four days; but I was afraid of losing my...