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valleys, we were advancing at maximum speed through the plain of the valley Gangri towards
the North, trying to arrive as soon as possible to the river Yaru-Zang-Bo or High Brahmaputra.
By this river we will only nagivate four hundred kilometres but, according to the
appreciation of von Grossen, in four or five days we would perambulate a distance that, by
land, through the path of Yung-Lam, demanded time five times longer.
In a prefixed point of the shore were waiting us two rafts of firm construction, apt to
transport each one of them ten persons and a tonne of charge: more than enough to cover our
needs. The kâulikâs were in charge to contract them and the price was high, because we had to
pay them the travel to Sadiga and the cost of the tugboats that brought them again to the High
Brahmaputra.
The skilled ferrymen, stimulated by the promise of a great extra-remuneration, or
frightened for the dangerousness of the kâulikas monks, driving nimbly the tugboats through
the centre of the watercourse, taking adventage to the fullest the speed of the river. And
meanwhile, the abundant current was approaching me rapidly to the objective of the mission, I
contemplated admired one of the sceneries more extraordinary of the Earth, only comparable,
in a lesser measure, to the plateau of Tiwanaku in America. Because such river «Son of
Brahma», that furrowed longitudinally a cold valley situated at 4.000 high, had its shores
guarded by two mountain ranges so famous for the elevation of their mountains as for the
concepts that deserved to the most ancient Religions of the Humanity: at the right was
extended the Himalyas, in whose system affirms the Asian tradition that is located in the
Mount Meru, the Olympus of the Indos; and at the left were the mounts Gangri, mountain
range that culminates at the West with mount Kailas, the Abode of Shiva.
One week later we were marching to the Yushu, in the N.O., trying to accelerate the
worday through the acquisition of yaks, because existed an itinerary of apertures and passages
that allowed to pass with those animals. After perambulating an uninterrupted set of small
valleys, crossing numerous mountain belts, the overflowing river Saluen and many other minor
torrents, we reached one day to the shores of the Mekong, at some 80 km. from Chamdo. At
that heigh the kâulikâs had already inquired that the expedition os Schaeffer advanced us in
just fifteen days: little time for such latitudes where the duration of the journeys was measured
in months; a lot if it was saving the life of Oskar Feil.
Happily the good weather accompanied us the whole journey and it would remain thus
till the end. We passed the right shore of the Menkong and we took the Path of the Lamas, with
the hope to shorten the distance that separated us from Schaeffer marching faster than his
column and stopping the indispensable to rest. Anyhow, the progress was slow until the
exasperation, because the famous «Path» consisted in a narrowed and elevated carriageway that
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