ceeding south along the east side, we have Monan-salghan amongst the tamarisk-cones and reeds; then the cape Muhamed Kullunu-modschughu and Islam Käldinimodschughu ; Ilias Murab-salghan-jer (the Place Settled by Ilias Murab), Polotto-boltasi (the sound between the island and the shore); next the bay of Kaghune-kakmasi, already mentioned; Sati-salghan-modschuk (the Cape at Sati's Settlement); Muhamed Sopune-modschuk; Tokta Niasi-modschuk; and Abdu Semet-kakmasi, the name of the eastern bay at the south end. On the west side of this last are the capes of Ilias Murabne-modschughu, Chodscheli-modschuk, and Koghune-mudschuk. The name of the western bay is Chodscheli-kakmasi. Proceeding up the western shore we come successively to Muhamed Nias-salghan, Terimi-modschuk, and Ahmedne-modschughu. The island in the lake has no special name, but is generally spoken of as the Kum-aral or Sand Island. A cape which juts out at its northern end is however known as Ilias Murabne-salghan, and another at its opposite or southern end as Chodschelimodschuk.
Upon an examination of this catalogue of names, two peculiarities at once strike the observation. Without exception they are compound names, each consisting of two factors, the former of the two being a personal name, the latter indicating some special geographical feature. The only name we have hitherto had which does not begin with a personal prefix is the Toghrak-modschughu, or Poplar Cape, in the Gölme-käti; and setting aside the names of the lakes themselves, this is the only purely descriptive name that occurs here. There are no names like the Sand Cape, the Deep Bay, the Kamisch Cape, the Sheltered Shore, Windy Cape, and similar descriptive and definitive appellations, such as certainly would have occurred had the lakes been old, and their geographical characteristics permanent. The existing nomenclature is indicative of something ephemeral, transient, accidental. The only descriptive epithets are the three suffixes which are so frequently repeated, modschuk, kaknzar, and bolto; but the personal names conjoined with them have much the character of an index to a book, being a temporary method of distinguishing the several parts of the lake in which so and so possesses the fishing-rights, or has once made a passing settlement, or has built a hut, or dug a canal. Nor, after the explanations which I have given above, is anything else to be expected. The lakes are of quite recent origin, and the only value they possess for the native population is the fish they contain; consequently the only spots which require to be named are their fishing-stations and places of temporary residence. In all probability these names will persist until the changes now going on in the lake blot out bays, capes, and sounds alike. Most of the men whose names are perpetuated on the shores of the Ullugh-köl are already dead, but their names are still retained, although they have now ceased to subserve their original purpose of a species of register or index of ownership. For instance the fishing at Abdu Semet-kakmasi is now perhaps owned by a Muhamed Achun.
* Modschuk and modschughu are merely two different forms of the same word. Sometimes the genitive suffix is added to the personal name, sometimes not; for instance Murab and Murabne (= Murabning), Semet and Semeti. Instead of following a consistent rule, I have thought it better to reproduce the names precisely as they are pronounced locally on the spot.
fled in, Journey in Central Asia. 36
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