58

INDIA

Southern Wakhan tributary as claiming precedence from
the fact of its draining the highest mountain basin and
originating in the most stupendous glaciers. But it was
found that Lake Victoria is not in itself a source, any more
than is Lake Chakmaktin. ‘Both lakes are but incidents
in the course of glacier-fed streams® which derive their

- i
J
Lakes» Glaciers
=
Fic. 21.—The Sources of the Oxus.

2a Mir

sources from above these lakes, and in the case of Lake
Victoria, at least, form a subsidiary chain of lakes draining
from higher altitudes. Chakmaktin was originally reported
 to possess a double outlet, east and west, and the
report finally was proved to be nearer the truth than its
subsequent contradiction. The main glacier torrent which
passes through Chakmaktin actually divides in the swamps
to the west of the lake, and part of it passes to the east to

Ll Themselves but the remains of ancient glaciers.