The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-08
SOLVING 4 (ONUNDRUM.
The British Nav Hope To survey the Dihong
Ri,er Through the Himala,as .

Years hav. elapsed since progress has
been made in tracing he course OF the
Dihong River through the Himalayas in
the southeastern part of Tibet. II has
been known for some time that this river
merges with the BrahInaputra Of India,
but for years il was a veSed question whore
the Dihong came from. Was II the lower
part OF the Sanpo, which flows east ward
through southern Tibet II 80, the identity
of the Brahmaputra with the Sanpo would
he established.
The Marquis 81 Iorne in his address az
President Of the Royal Geographical So
ciety In 1898 said that the settlement OF
his question by actual exploration by
w~ell-pualihed observers remained the chief
want in Asiatic geography.
Al that time geographers were divided
in opinion a. TO the way in which the Sanpo
reached the sea. Mr.. Gordon, one of the
explorers Of the upper Irrawaddy River in
Burma, was a strong advocate of the theory
that the Sanpo flowed far to the east and
emptied into the upper l~rrawaddy. Gen.
Walker and other geographers maintained
that the Sanpo flowed into the Brahmaput ra
and thus reached the ocean through India
II explorers might only have assembled the
Dihong along its tortuous course through
the mountains the problem would ha We
been solved. Blu the exploration OF the
Dihong, az explorers found who attempted
il, would be very difficult, not only on ac-
| count Of the physical obstacles among
the mountains in one OF the most rugged
countries In the world. hut also on account
of the fierce and independent: temper of
the mountain tribes.
Fast of Bhutan there are numerous eemi-
independent hill tribes who when necessity
presses acknowledge allegiance 10 Tibet
! and al other times assert their complete
freedom from control. These tribes have
always lsen mistrustful Of the British.
They have opposed attempts to explore
the Dihong with such energy as TO defeat
every effort in that direction
Though explorers have not been able
to establish the union Of the Sanpo with
the Brahmaputra by actual research con-
siderable light has been thrown, on the
problem. The Indian surveyor whose
work has been published under the letters
Ming followed the Sanpo astward in
1873 to Gyala Sindang: the pundit AK In
1852 and Mr.. Ncedham in 1886 assembled the
Brahmaputra TO a little above Sadiya. ;hus
considerably reducing the unknown stretch
81 the rivers. II has been discovered also
bv explorations in the mountains to the
east that the Sanpo clearly does not pcne-
traie In hat direction and therefore has
no relation 10 the lrrawaddy system. A.
| mo lllf'Hl hlNfI II ~ N'I'Il''''Ni W.
the rivers Of Burma the fact Is regarded AZ
conclusively established that the Sanpo,
Dihong and Brahmaputra are n and
the same river. While no doubt is nov
entertained Of this fact il is desired OF
course 10 establish II by actual survey.
This is the enterprise that the British have
taken in hand.
The unknown part 81 the Dihong OK
tending through the mountains il about
one hundred and twenty-five miles a. the
bird flies. After wears IL effort Mr. Need
ham. a while ago, established apparently
friendly relations with the tribes along
this UNEMPLOYED rou'" He secured th"ii
perinission To- send two Indian surveyor
M the river They advanced some d'--
tancc into the unknown district. bu' on
account Of serious trouble betWecu fh'
TITLES in February last their work wH~
for some time suspended Later iufurWa'
ton II that the two surveyors were alI"
about the iniddlc Of March. again 90 ad.
vance since which time no report 81 urho
obstacles IN their way has been received
II D., hoped thai they will be able to trace
the course % the river clear 20 the SauIu
II they sue s-,d. mapinakerr will b" all'
"a improve their tuppg raphic dclIurailol
] Of this part 81 Asia.