Most Important, owing to its especially plenteous supply of fish. Torpak-öldi, or the Calf Died, is like Gölme-käti, in that it contains an allusion to a very trivial occurrence which happened on its shore.
The remaining names speak of properties which are more directly characteristic of each lake, as Teis-köl, or the Shallow Lake, suggesting that it would be vain to expect to find any great depth in it. The name Jangi-köl indicates that the lake which bears it is a recent creation, or at any rate has been formed more recently than its neighbours. Toghraklik-köl, again, suggests that poplars probably grow more abundantly on its shores than elsewhere. The Ullugh-köl , or the Big Lake, certainly is bigger than its neighbours. The compound Bajir-köl contains a contradiction in terms, for whereas köl signifies a depression that contains water, bajir signifies a depression that is without water. Hence we may surmise, that this name, which occurs three times, points to something intermediate between the two, a depression which contains water periodically only, and probably dries up entirely between the two seasons of high flood. Kum-köl, or the Sand Lake, is a common designation applied to all these lakes because they are surrounded by sand. Jallang-dschajir, the Bare Pool, is no doubt so called because of the absence of vegetation. Tschapghan-köl, the Dug Lake, is much too pretentious a name, for of course it is only the feeding-canal which has been dug. In Laj-baskan-köl we have an interesting name, meaning the Lake Filled up with Silt, and indicating that plentiful deposits of sedimentary matter are often enough deposited in it. The Ettek-köl, or the Western Lake, is so called because it lies west of Arghan; and the Ettek-bajir derives its name very appropriately from the circumstance that it is considered to begin the chain of lakes along the river, being the westernmost of the entire string. The first part of the name Uja-köl points to the dense thickets of reeds in which the wild-duck and wild-geese are wont to make their nests; and the name tells us consequently that the lake is surrounded by thick reeds. The natives know intimately where all these uja are, for they are wont to plunder them every spring, the eggs of these birds forming one of the most important parts of the sustenance of the Lopliks. As for Schikak I confess I am not quite positive about it; I was informed, that it is the name given to a place where one lies in wait (schikamak), i. e. for fish so as to spear them.* The first part of the name Ghodsche-tutghutsch-köl is used to indicate the feathers and wing-feathers (pinions) of the wild-duck and wild-goose. When these drop out, the birds can be caught (tutmak = to take, to seize) by hand from the canoes. With regard to other lakes, not included in my list, as they are only portions of larger lakes, I will once more refer to Lakuluk-köl, another name which has a direct connection with fishing, for laku is the biggest species of fish which lives in the Tarim and its lakes, whereas the smallest species is known as balik. For Tuvadake-köl, the Lake of the Hills, I could see no reasonable justification, for the lake is surrounded by sand-dunes only, precisely like those which encircle its neighbours, so that in this respect there exists nothing distinctive.
IIIF Color HighRes
