like valley situated between the ranges of the Tschol-tagh and the Karaksil [it ought to be Kara-kisil]. The last-named also extends from west to east, but falls short of the former in altitude, and terminated east of our route in a desert-like plain. In the valley that parts the two ranges just named are the last traces of the desiccated lake of Kumuschi, known also locally as Kumuschin-tuse. On its northern shore, but more especially also on its southern shore, there are sand-hills, bearing some of them dead tamarisks, others living tamarisks». A little vegetation was found in the dry lake-bottom; this is in places converted into salt-pans, which when seen at a distance resemble lakes.
The traveller encamped beside the spring of Schor-bulak, at the northern foot of the Kara-kisil, water being obtained at the depth of a good saschen. At its eastern end the Kara-kisil terminates abruptly, and is succeeded by a broad flat ridge. After marching round this, they descended into the next following valley, called Kara-kisil-tuse. This, twenty versts to the south, is blocked by the dark range of the Egertschi-tagh, but east and west it stretched farther than they could see. There were no traces whatever of animal or vegetable life. »At length», continues Kosloff, »we reached the pass over the Igertschi-tagh, and almost without perceiving it attained its crest, whence we had a broad plain spread out at our feet on the south. This, which was pretty fairly clothed with vegetation, is called Tungus-lik (Tonguslik); there the wild boar is said to come from time to time. The altitude of the pass is about 5,000 feet above sea-level. The crest of the range rises to a considerable altitude, and is almost everywhere serrated. The range itself soon comes to an end on the east, but westward it extends a long way.»
Descending from the range, they, after passing a little ridge, came to Gensocholo, from the spring of which there issued a brook 3 versts long. The vegetation of this oasis, which lies on the route to Uschak-tal, consists of kamisch, tamarisks, and poplars. The valley of Gensocholo is bordered on the south by the crest of the Kisil-tagh, which in point of character resembles the ranges already described. It is high in the north-west, but towards the south-east becomes perceptibly lower.
»From the gentle pass of this range one obtains a magnificent view towards the distant south-west. On the other side of the outspread valley the lofty group of the Tscharajlik-tagh, or as the Mongols call it Sajchen-ula, towers up in the form of a high ridge peeping over the flat range of the Kuruk-tagh. To the west of it appear the dark summits of the curving range of the Kuruk-tagh itself.»
A march of i 2 versts almost due south brought the traveller to the district of Podschunsa, in the valley of the same name. In the vicinity was a lead mine, then worked by a party of Tungans. In the middle of the valley of Podschunsa there is a little mountain group, with springs at its foot, which give nourishment to a belt of vegetation 5 versts in length. In the period just before the summer rains the little brook from the springs reaches down to the marsh at Tunguslik. West and east the valley is shut in by low crests and detached heights, and on the south by the main range of the Kuruk-tagh. According to the natives, it is at these springs and pasture-grounds . at the foot of the mountain-group of Tscharajlik-tagh, that the Torguts (Torgod) are wont to spend the winter. The flanks of this mountain-
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