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0357 Scientific Results of a Journey in Central Asia, 1899-1902 : vol.1
Scientific Results of a Journey in Central Asia, 1899-1902 : vol.1 / Page 357 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000216
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THE TOGHRAKLIK-KÜL AND THE KARAUNELIK-KÖL.   255

gravitation, performed its work more surely than any goldminer's »rocker» separates the precious grains from the »dirt» with which it is associated. And even though the sound did not get sanded up in this way, it must inevitably be clipped in two as soon as the eastern promontory meets and coalesces with the western.

The Sejt-köl, which, as I have already said, I only saw from the top of a high dune, is a lake of the same type as the Karaunelik-köl. It too contracts in the middle, and thus consists of two elliptical lake basins, as may be seen from the photograph on Pl. 39. The only difference between the two lakes appears to be this, that in the case of the Sejt-köl, it is the southern basin which is the smaller.

Nor is it indeed surprising to find that geographical homologies do exist in the case of lakes which originate under precisely similar conditions such as these do. The little promontory situated south-east of the point where the feeding-canal enters the Karaunelik-köl bears the name of Tokta Niasne-modschughu, the very same name which is borne by the corresponding, but rudimentary, cape south-east of the mouth of the feeding-canal of the Gölme-käti. In both cases the narrow connecting-sound between the two basins is called Bolto, and the bay on the east shore, south of the sound, is known as Kakmar, a word which signifies »deep bay (suitable for fishing)». The kakmar of the Karaunelik-köl is called Kaghune-kakmasi; a promontory to the north of it is Arsu Kullu Schek-modschughu, the promontory east of the sound Mahmetne-modschughu; and the shore to the north of it Bobane-ottogho. The sound itself is known as Kungul-koschu-boltasi, Kungul being a man's name, while koschu-boltasi signifies »double sound»; and the name is quite justified by the fact that the eastern promontory has two projecting points, so that, correctly speaking, we ought to talk of two narrow passages. To the south-east of this lake there is another promontory called Chodscheli-modschughu, a name which we have already met with in the Gölme-käti. On the south-western shore is the rounded promontory of Muptu Achune-modschughu, while the tract beside the canal is called Ilias Murab-salghan, meaning »Made by Ilias Murab», presumably the man who first undertook to regulate the canal. Thus all these names perpetuate the names of people who had something to do with each place in question — dug the canal, dwelt on a promontory, fished in a kakmar, and so forth. Even Bobane-ottogho, »the Old Man's Dwelling-place», preserves the recollection of some aged man who established himself with his household Penates at the foot of the sand-dune. At Basch-köl and Jangi-köl I was not given any similar local nomenclature, probably because the shores of those lakes are too regular to have acquired distinctive names.

One noteworthy fact in connection with the Karaunelik-köl is, that practically all the poplars stand on its eastern shore, where they are in danger of being buried under the sand. But when they root themselves, they have of course no conception of the peril that threatens them or of the fate that will overtake them. On the west shore I did not notice more than two or three of these trees. Of those on the opposite side there were several already covered with sand, while others, growing on less steep slopes, appeared to be avoided by it. If this last circumstance is anything more than a pure coincidence, it points to the fact that these poplars occupy a position which is better sheltered against the easterly gales. This may explain not only their greater numbers on that side, but also their vigorous appearance. On the other hand the broader strip of shore on

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