A NEW JOURNEY SOUTHWARDS.
pass itself makes a rather deep gap in the spur, for both north and south of it the mountains swell up into great cliff-like masses. Here we found arkharis and partridges. In the course of the relatively short stage from Camp III we climbed no less than 145o m., for the absolute altitude of the Jaman-davan is 3136 m.
So long as we were in the Mätschit-saj we marched uniformly east-north-east, and the glen leading down from the pass still continues to follow the same direction. On that the eastern side the descent is far less accentuated, and also easier, owing to the fact that the surface is earthy and grass-grown, both gravel and stones being absent. Around the pass there were patches of snow on the slopes facing north; and on the east side they were large enough to give rise to a little brook, which
Fig. 315. MOUNTAIN SCENERY FROM LOWER ASTIN-TAGH.
we followed the whole of the way down, the brook being augmented at intervals as it descended. Lower down this glen also contracts, and becomes plentifully strewn with gravel, and finally it is just as awkward as the western acclivity. Often the track avoids the bottom of the glen and climbs up on the slopes at the sides, where the wild briers grow amongst the gravel. Then down we would go steeply into the bottom, and soon up again on the opposite side. In some places however we were able to ride along the bottom of the watercourse. Here again, thanks to the energetic and bold relief, the scenery is of the grandest, new views bursting upon us without cessation. We soon came to the spring of Tschivilik-bulak, surrounded by bushes and tschilve. Below it we found toghraks growing in a triangular expansion where two glens meet. There too balghun bushes, grass, and other vegetation thrive, the little oasis being both cool and pleasant. Its full name is Tölkölikningkiajaghi-koschlasch, i. e. the Meeting-place of the Lower Part of the Fox Spring; though it is generally called simply Koschlasch. Minor windings being disregarded,
IIIFカラー高解像度
