old river-beds in the angle between the two »limbs». It would be very interesting to explore that particular region and follow Kosloff's »dry river-bed» as far as it goes towards the south-east.
Whilst detailing the journeys of the following days I shall have abundant opportunity to study the Kuruk-darja, and its former course, and I will endeavour at the same time to convey an idea of the aspect of the country along the southern foot of the Kuruk-tagh. On i 3th March, our first day from Jing-pen, we travelled mainly east. At first we kept to the old river-bed, having the lower terrace on our left and the marsh on the right (south). When the latter came to an end, we again
Fig. 40. THE COUNTRY BETWEEN KURUK-TAGH AND KURUK-DARJA EAST OF J1NG-PEN.
climbed to the top of the terrace on that side, and for â. time travelled along the usual road -to Turfan. Both terraces are gapped by a couple of ravines coming from the north and issuing into the marsh. Traversing soft ground, plentifully dotted over with tamarisk-mounds, we at length came to a southward projection of the upper terrace. At the same time the river makes a parallel curve towards the south, and for a space disappears from sight, though its course is always traceable from the groups of toghraks which accompany it throughout. After the upper terrace, the existence of which we first detected at the ruins, has returned to its original direction, the surface becomes hard and level, and is strewn with small stones and coarse sand, and is practically barren. This brought us, without our being aware of it, up on to a middle terrace, the presence of which was however revealed by our having, at the next northward bend that the river made, to descend by a steep step, when we again found ourselves on the terrace which forms the northern scarped bank of the ancient stream. On the little promontory of the middle terrace there stands a clump of old and gnarled poplars, generally quite fresh and full of vitality, and measuring at the most 4.zo m. in circumference at the base. The river loop referred
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