IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
| |||||||||
|
| IIIF Color HighRes |
| Scientific Results of a Journey in Central Asia, 1899-1902 : vol.2 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Citation Information
KOSLOFF ON THE WESTERN KURUK-TAGH. 87
group are so steep that it is impossible for either men or animals to climb up them.
»From the district of Podschunsa we directed our steps towards the south-east, until we came to the lead-mines of Kant-bulak, situated amongst the spurs of the northern slopes of the Kuruk-tagh. The mines are worked by six Tungans, who discovered them fifteen years ago.»
»For a very long time there has existed a road past these mines leading from Toksun to the country of Lop. As a consequence of the divisions of the Kuruktagh system, it is convenient to travel through, or rather amongst, these mountains without either ascending or dipping down into the depressions, for the track winds backwards and forwards amongst them until it strikes the new route which has been made comparatively recently from Kisil-sinir. On the following day we continued east along the foot of a ridge, which ran parallel to the Kuruk-tagh, and so reached at length the village of Kisil-sinir. This village is situated amongst the hills, at an altitude of about 4,98o feet above the sea, and 23o versts from Toksun.»
From this place Kosloff returned to .Luktschin, to the north-east. After leaving the village, although the surface was broken, they soon entered a valley bordered by detached ridges on the north, and having rolling ground in the east. It is at the foot of one of these ridges that the spring of Pasa Begning-bulaghi is situated.
This route to Luktschin is of the same character as the route already described farther west. The desert plateau is in many places crowned by single mountains, ridges, and flattened heights, mostly disposed east and west. But on the parallel of the Kumuschin-tuse they found in front of them an extensive plain, sparsely dotted over with small conical hills. It was here that the route divided, one branch going to Turfan, the other to Luktschin. The latter turns away to the north-east, keeping along the, sand-dunes and extensive saline depressions, until it comes to the little salt lake of Usun-bulak, situated at an altitude of 2,50o feet and fed by a spring stream carrying a fair amount of water.
»In front of us on the north is the range of Tschol-tagh, attaining on this route a breadth of 5o versts. Its southern slope is long, and descends a considerable distance down. It is thickly studded with hills and detached ridges having for the most part an east-west direction. Its northern flank, which is turned towards the cauldron-shaped valley of Turfan, is incomparably steeper and shorter. The summit of the pass of the Tschol-tagh on this route is 4,200 feet.»
»The track, zoo versts long, from Usun-bulak to Tatlik-bulak in the valley of Luktschin traverses a barren desert, and is only passable in autumn and winter. On the south side of the Tschol-tagh is the valley of Julghun-tuse, 20 versts long and i 2 versts across; it is surrounded by high mountains and slopes towards the north-east.»
After that, in the middle of November (O. S.), Kosloff crossed the same range by a third route, the Turfan road. »The vertical section of the Tschol-tagh by this route is very like the vertical sections on the Kara-schahr and Luktschin routes, i. e. its northern flank is steep, and its southern longer and flatter. The elevation of the range decreases gradually towards the east. On the Turfan road the culminating point of the pass lies at 4,990 feet. On the flat southern slope of the Tschol-tagh there is a lofty crest disposed almost at right angles to the general
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright (C) 2003-2019 National Institute of Informatics and The Toyo Bunko. All Rights Reserved.