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0551 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 551 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000216
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TIIE RETURN JOURNEY FROM ARGHAN TO JANGI-KOL.   425

We crossed the Tschivilik arm on the ice just below the bifurcation, and then plunged into an old and thick forest full of broken branches and wind-falls which have in the course of time accumulated amongst the trees. Then for a pretty long distance we kept on the left bank of the Kuntschekisch-tarim, or Kuntschekar-tarim as it is called by the natives of Jangi-su, an older river-bed, marked with exceptional distinctness as an elongated hollow fenced in on both sides by dense forest. After emerging from this, the track crosses alternately steppe and bush-covered ground, though sometimes the surface is quite bare and full of hollows and depressions, ancient scarped banks and erosion terraces, left by desiccated lakes and river-arms. A salt pool we came to is known as the Kisil-su. As a general rule the word kisil indicates that the water is salt, just as kara and ak (spring water and water from melted snows respectively) imply that it is fresh. Once more approaching the Kuntschekisch-tarim, we found on our right a very large boldschemal, containing a frozen pool, with forest on its margins. We encamped in the district of Kumluk, where there was a hut standing beside yet another abandoned loop. Thus this river too has left on its banks indications of changeableness, and of its tendency to shift its channel.

Here the Kuntschekisch-tarim, or the Eastern River, is called also the Kok-ala or Ara-tarim, meaning the Middle River, i. e. between the Tschong-tarim and the eastern Ilek. It is fed by two »roots» or »source arms» from the left bank of the Tarim, namely one at Kudschek near Ullugh-köl, the other at Kara-tschatsch below Jangi-köl. But it derives its greatest supply from the Laschin-darja, which joins it over against the above-named Kisil-su. Thus the Kuntschekisch-tarim is considerably smaller at Kumluk than at Arelisch. Of the multiplicity of sources possessed by the Laschin-darja I have already spoken when describing my journey through the reedy lakes of the Tarim. From Kumluk the nearest village, or mällallä, is Jangi-su, barely half a day's journey away; the track thither crosses the Laschin-darja and passes through the districts of Kön-asti and Kok-angis. Travelling south-west from Kumluk, you cross three rivers, namely the Kuntschekisch-tarim, the Laschin-darja, and the Tschong-tarim, but travelling north-east you cross one only, namely the Ilek or Bos-ilek. At the high-water season the Kuntschekisch-tarim above the Laschindarja is said not to rise to the same notable extent as other rivers, which no doubt depends upon the fact that independently of the seasons it derives a pretty steady supply of water from the Kontsche-darja.

On the 2 I st February we continued towards the north-west and west-northwest along the left bank of the Kuntschekisch-tarim. The river is discernible only from the thick belt of forest which accompanies it, for the path we chose runs a little distance from it over steppe, and through clumps of forest and excessively trying thickets of tangled bushes (liken and kongurischak). A district beside the river is called Jegren-sulak. The steppe-land is traversed by a narrow winding watercourse, though it was at that time dry. A short distance to the right of the track is an unbroken chain of sandy ridges and mounds, with tamarisks and kötäk. Opposite to Matija-jatghan we threaded our way through a belt of low dunes, which have their steep faces turned towards the west; in the intervals between the dunes there is an abundance of dead kamisch. On the right lies the district of Usagh-kötörma.

Hedin, journey in Central Asia.   54