about 8 cub.m. in the second, than to the peculiarities of the bed, which is narrow and filled with round, water-worn stones, often with deep water between them.
I noted the following names — Adschar-tughdi and Kulan-kujruk, parts of the main glen; Ghuldurghotsch, a side-glen from the left; below that the main glen is called Tallik, and there stands a stone hut; Kulluk, a large side-glen from the right; as also is Suget-aghsi. Kerelang-aghsi is another big glen from the left, in the upper part of which there are said to be wide, open grazing-grounds. Opposite to its outlet the bottom of the main glen is cultivated. Karaul, one of the usual simple four-sided stone-walled forts, was at that time inhabited by a Chinese sidle, whose duty it was to keep an eye upon the traffic by the Kara-korum route. Another side-glen from the right is known as Tam; at its outlet grow a couple of willows, and the fort beside them is said to date from »King Abu Bekr's time. After that the principal glen grows very narrow, and as the stream dashes quickly from one side to the other, we had to ford it no end of times. Tschong-tasch is an expansion in the glen, with cultivated fields and some Kirgis yurts. But before reaching that point we had already given up our yaks, it was too warm for them. A large side-glen from the right rejoices in the name of Jangagilik; in fact it is almost as big as the main glen, at all events in so far as the volume of its stream is concerned. At its head we saw the snow-capped principal range. A road is reported to ascend this big glen to the pass of Sandschu; it is used when our route is stopped by the water, but it is longer and climbs over yet another pass. We encamped at Akasaghsi, at an altitude of 2547 m. There we were in the midst of pleasant meadows and cultivated fields; and there was a stone hut.
As the evening advanced, I noted that the Kirgis were quite justified in warning us against having to ford the stream late in the day. Through the contribution of the brook of Jangagilik the river had swollen to a very respectable size; but it was not long before it became absolutely impassable, even for the boldest sutschi or »waterman». At 2 o'clock we put down a watermark; at 3 o'clock the stream had risen 5.2 cm., at 4 o'clock another 15.o cm.; at half-past 4 by 53.7; at 5 o'clock by 16.2; at 6 o'clock by 15.o; at 8 o'clock by 12 cm.; but at 20 minutes past eight it had dropped 3 cm., and it continued dropping all night. Thus it reached its maximum at about 8 p.m., and from 2 p.m. or in the space of six hours, it had risen not less than 117 cm., or more than i m. altogether; but I ought to add, that these measurements were taken at a narrow place. The quickest rise occurred between 4 and 4.3o, the river rising in that half-hour more than half a meter. In consequence of the great amount of sediment that it contained, the river-water was like porridge, and the flood filled the glen with its noise to such an extent that we had to shout to make ourselves heard. It was truly an imposing sight to watch this immense body of water fling itself in uncurbed fury down its energetically excavated channel, choked as it is with stones. Every now and again we heard the big stones, which had been rooted to the spot for some time, tumble over and roll a little bit farther down the channel. As the torrent struck against these obstacles, it leapt up over them a like wild animal. Upon witnessing such an exhibition of natural force, you readily understand that it must produce results of some magnitude and that the glen it pours down must be deeply excavated; although, as the
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