Evening star., 1901-04-15
WORLDS EIGHTH WONDER
THE TsANGPO THE LOFTIEST OF
ALI. RIVERS.
Flows for 1000 Miles Mt an Elevation
of 1900 Feet-Drops 5000
Feet In $50 Miles.

From the National Geographic Magazine.
The Tsangpo is in several respects the
most remarkable river in the world 1t is
the highest of all nayigable streams, flow
ing for nearly a thousand miles at an ele-
walton of from II 900 to 900 feet. During
the greatest part of it's course its current
is sluggish, but for hundred miles or
more the mighty river. in it's descent to the
coast plain, runs with the speed of a noun
tain torrent. Though one of the largest Of
Central Asian streams, it has never been
followed from its source to its mouth, and
until recently it was doubtful of which of
two Well-known rivers it was the head wa
tiers.
The Tsangpo rises in the extreme south
western corner of Tibet at a height of
nearly 1900 feet. Receiving the drainage
of the slopes of the Himalayas and of lit
tie known Tibetan range running parallel
with these mountains. 1t soon becomes a
stream wide and deep enough to be naviga-
bic. There is considerable boat traffic
upon it, at an elevation of little below the
summit of Mount Blanc. 1t flows due east
for some eight hundred miles, receiving
numerous large tributaries from both south
and north, and when near Lhasa it is at
low water, nearly third of a mile wide
and twenty feet deep; in flood two miles
wide and of unknown depth. In longitude
81 degrees east it makes a sharp bend to
the south, and passes through the Hima-
ages who dwell upon it's precipitous banks.
When last seen by an explorer it is at a
height of from 5000 to Ii 900 feet, but when
it emerges in Assam it is only 400 feet
above sea level. From this point it pursues
its sluggish way for another 800 miles as
the Brahmaputra to the Ganges and the
bay of Bengal There has been long con-
troversy, into the details Of which 1t is not
necessary to enter. as to whether the Ira
| wada the Brahmaputra is the continual
tion Of the Tsangpo. Though there has
been as yet no direct evidence-the last ex-
pedient of throwing I'm marked logs in
Tibet having failed-the general consensus
of scientific opinion is in favor of the Brah-
maputra and the latest English gazetteer
decribes it under this name.
1t Is hardly to be expected that pure
| science will be much benefited by the lift.
! ing of the veil which hangs over this par,
OF the rivers course. But there can be
| little doubt that it hides scenes of magnifi.
| cent beauty and grandeur which will thrill
the eXpectant world and give it new anC
nobler conceptions.
| The imagination fails to grasp the reality
| as there is no other instance on earth of 6
large river dropping 5000 feet in $50 miles
/ plunging with the mad rush of a mountai
| brook hemmed by ranges whose peaks arr
! from thirteen to twenty-five thousand fee
| in height. The native testimony is conclu
! sive as to the existence of at least one awe
| inspiring fall before Tfbetan territory Il
| left
Its attempted ascent from the plains O
| Assam has been absolutely prohibited hith
| erto by the Indian government on the en-
| tirely reasonable ground that there is al
| most a certainty that the explorer woult
I be killed by the savage Mishmis, who ar
| intolerably jealous of the presence of
stranger in their country. This would ne
cessitate punitive expedition costly II
treasure and in life-an evil by mean
commensurate with the gain of having sat
isfed what is, after all, pure curiosity TIL
Tibetan officials also while preventing s
far as they are able any white man fror
entering Tibet, for some unknown reaso
forbid Tibetans even to attempt to descen
the river beyond their own frontier.
The Tsangpo has been exlored, however
with the exception of this $50 miles not
withstanding the opposition of the Tibetan
and the difficulties presented by the highes
mountain region In the world, though nc
by white men.
AT any time within the last thirty-fiv
years the trans-Himaiayan traveller Nigh
have met a caravan of Tibetan and India
traders with their paek-laden sheep ciimt
ing or descending some steep mountai
| pass or crossing the Tsangpo on raft
! Walking humbly with the servants {
| slaves for to walk Is mark of servitud
with those people. there would be an Ii
dian with tea bowl and prayer barrel su,
| pended at his girdle, counting his rosar
a. he walked. differing in nothing appal