The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-05-08
Lake Lobnor.

A contribution of high importance to
the geography of Central Asia has Just
been made by the publication of an &C
count OF the expedition in 1877 by a
Russian officer, Col Prjwalsky, to the
mysterious Lake Lobnor. About four
years ago the explorer, who adds 10 the
spirit of adventure the knowledge of an
exact scientist, made long journey from
Siberia across the Cobb Desert, through
Mongolia and western China to the Tor
ders OF Thibet. He has just started
from St. Petersburg on third expedition,
with the purport to penetrate Thibet and
reach Lassa, and return by a circuious
route, being absent two years. Lassa is
a mountain town north of the main chain
of the Himaayas, on branch Of the
Brahmaputra, put down on the map as
at an elevation of II,7oo feet above the
sea. 1t is in latitude about 50 degrees
north and about 81 degrees east longi-
tude. This region, through which ne
will pass, is already mapped with some
approach to accuracy. but it is practic-
ally the most unknown region in the
world. We know very little about Thib-
ct and its people. and less of the great
REGION between Thibe,, China and Turke-
stan. Attention has recently been called
to it by the occupation of kuldja by the
Russians, and by the war for the recovery
of lhe kuldia province between China
and Yakoob Beg. Since the travels of
arco Polo, no man has accomplished
so much in cleaning up the geographical
problems Of this part ofthe world as Col.
Prjwalsky. The Colonel, in his recent
expedition, started from kuldja, and
travelled southeast until he struck the
river Tarim where il turns south, AMI
be followed its course uutil it discharges
into Lake Lobnor The Tarim is
great river, with affluents covering a
very wide space, rising in the mountains
OF Kashgar. those bounding the Great
Pamir on the east, and in Jarkand and
Khoan. Flowing through the Cobb
desert, it seems, according to this traveller,
to lose itself in the sands, forl Lake Lob
nor is little more than shallow basin.
1t lies on the goth degree of west longi-
tude, ard just south OF the 10th parallel
OF latitude, running from southwest to
northeast about ninety versts, and no.
where wider than twenty versts. This
shallow lake is covered with reeds, and
appears to be subject to periodic increase
and decrease. The water is clear and
sweet, and only brackish along the shore; ;
it is full OF fish, and is frequented at
certain seasons by tens OF thousands of
migratory birds The most curious
thing about it, however, is its inhabitants.
They are not many, but they present a
singular mixture Of types, aud actually
live among the reeds of the lake in prim-
tive dwellings constructed OF reeds.
The description OF these outlandish peo-
pie is said to form a valuable contribu-
ton to ethnology The explorer also
describes the strange wild camels of this
region, which are so puzzing to natural
lists, and he visited the Allyn Tagh range
OF mountains, fourteen thousand feet
high, and a northeastern offshoot Of the
Kuen Lun mountains. The position Of
Lake Lobnor given by Colonel Prjwalskv
is that in the Sieler Atlas, but it should
be said that Baron Ritchofen, the great
est geographical authority on Central
Asia, says that the lake described by
Prwalskv is only a gathering Of the
waters of the Tarim, and not the true
Lobnor, which he places further north.