THE ARKA-KÖL, TAJEK-KOL, KARA-KÖL, ETC. 4$1
recônnaissance we paddled back to our point of departure, passing on the way a big patch of sand called Bussup-tüschken-kum, a name implying that a good deal of it has been already washed away. On the west shore of the lake too there are not a few toghraks. The ice was said to have broken up 11/2 months before on the lakes, but two months before on the rivers. In the Arka-köl the water had never before stood so high as it did that year, the cause assigned being an augmented inflow from the Tschivilik-köl.
Fig. 423. THE LAKE OF TOSGHAK-TSCHANTSCHDI.
On 26th April we paddled back from Camp No. XXXVI to the village of • Tosghak-tschantschdi, and thence northwards through the reeds, and across some small lakes of the usual character, diversified by islands, capes, and reedy tunnels, the kamisch being very tall and strong. The greatest depths we sounded were 3.30, 3.10, 3.76, 4.90 m. At S. 3o° W. from a point just north of the village there is said to be a small daschi (salt-pool) called Schirdake-attasi-avul-tschapghan, surrounded by dunes. with vegetation and tamarisk-mounds. On the left (west) amongst the reeds is the mouth of a small canal called Jangi-tarimning-ilek, a confusing name, for there is said to be an old river-bed just here through which formerly the entire discharge used to be poured. The larger channel we were following is called the Jangi-tarim. It is fenced in entirely by reeds. As a rule the current was extremely slow; only once did it amount to as much as 0.49 m. On the east side we passed another old river-bed, the Aru-akkan, its mouth still quite distinct. Immediately above that
Hedin, Tourney in Central Asia. 61
IIIF Color HighRes
