REGIONS DRAINED BY THE KARA-KASH REGION. 2 I 7
On 7anuary 3rd, the march is 16.3 km. in length and the general direction is E. S. E. The minimum temperature was -22.4°, the clouds very heavy and dark, and mist filled the valleys. In the morning some snow fell , making the hills partly white, whilst on the ground of the valley, the snow at once disappeared. For many days we had not seen the sun. It was the same dark, cloudy and foggy weather, as at the same season the previous year.
The valley now becomes broader, being at least 1 km. wide. Following the right bank of the Kara-kash to the E. N. E., we soon reached the place where the river turns to the N. N. E. and N. N. W. In the mist it was impossible to get a clear conception of the details of the landscape. Here, a broad tributary valley joins the Kara-kash. We followed it S. E. This may be the same way which had been taken by Crosby, though it is difficult to tell on account of the small scale of his map. On the left or southern side of this valley, there are mighty snow-covered black mountains; on the right side are red and yellow hills of no great height. On the slopes, there is some grass. The bed of this valley was completely dry, not even ice was seen, only in protected parts of the bed there was still some snow. Of life, only a raven was seen. During the last part of the march, the ground was barren. At a place where a tributary opened from the south, grass again appeared on the slopes, together with the usual hard plants which are excellent as fuel. No other water than melted snow was to be had. The weather was extraordinary. The mist became impenetrable, and in the afternoon it began to snow. In the evening it snowed in fine, dry flakes and the whole country became white. At the same time, the stars were visible. When the sky was covered with nearly black clouds no snow fell, but when the sky was clear it snowed. The minimum temperature was down at -28.8°. My Ladakis asserted that this place, Camp CCXC VI, is called Yaj5chan. Its height is 5,201 m. The next day, which was sacrificed for a rest, the weather was clear and sunny, but a strong west wind blew. Pan. 385A and B, Tab. 67, was sketched. To the E. S. E. and S. E., it shows some very sharp pyramidal peaks. To the S. 2° W. is the extensive southern tributary valley. S. W. and west is a group of black wild snow-covered mountains, in our vicinity. To the N. 6o° W. is the valley by which be have come, which is a right tributary to the Kara-kash.
On January 5th, we made 12.6 km. nearly eastwards. During the first 10.2 km. we had to ascend from 5,201 M. to a pass of 5,485 m., or 284 m., being a rate of I :36. From the pass we again descended to Camp CCXCVII with a height of 5,260 m. or a difference of 225 m., being an unusually steep slope or as I : 10.7. The minimum temperature was -22.7°. Early in the morning, the snowfall was livelier than before and the whole land became perfectly white.
Eastwards our valley is bounded by wild, rocky, irregular mountains with sharp peaks, pyramids and needles cropping up from the enormous heaps of detritus
28. IV.
IIIFカラー高解像度
