the view in this direction extends very far. In the background, considerable mountains rise above the horizon, but at two places, comparatively low passes seem to be situated. For about two days, we would apparently have comfortable ground to cover. The latitudinal valley is here as broad and open as a plain, stretching E. S. E. Grass is seen at several places, both along the soft slopes of the rounded hills to the north, and, here and there, on the floor of the valley, where some flocks of antelopes were seen grazing. On the snow-covered ground, the animals are easier to see than usually. From the little threshold, the ground slowly slopes downward for about 4o m., after which it again rises to the camp. To our left is seen the principal watercourse of the valley between its terraces, obviously going in the direction to the fresh-water lake. To the eye the whole plain seems to be perfectly horizontal. To the south it is bounded by a considerable range with a mighty peak with eternal snow, and a more bulky cupola-shaped mass quite covered with snow. S. E. of the latter, a third culminating group of the range is visible. Our route goes north of this range. To the left, we have smaller, interrupted hills. Through an opening between them a yellowish pink, rocky range to the N. E. becomes visible, certainly the one on the southern shore of Lake Lighten. Between shallow erosion beds, we finally turn N. E. and camp among good grass. The storm continued with all its fury, sweeping heaps of dry, fine snow along the soil and accumulating it at the lee sides of terraces and unevennesses of the ground. Pan. 400, Tab. 71, shows a comparatively easy passage to S. 6o° E., and to the S. E., south and S. W. the range or system of ranges we had had on our right.
On 7anuary 251h, we continued E. S. E. for i 3.I km. The ground ascended from 5,296 m. to 5,337 m. or 4 r m., which is at the rate of i :32o. The minimum temperature was - 2 9.6° and in the morning, the clouds were so impenetrable as to make the whole country half dark. At some places the valley seems to be up to 10 km. broad, or more. It is overgrown with the common plants in great abundance, whilst grass is more sparse and only on the slopes at the northern side. At a greater distance to the east and E. N. E., is a high snow-covered range with several ridges visible in an opening between the northern hills. Through the same opening, we behold in our vicinity, a small oblong lake, the greater part of which is frozen , though at two or three places , open water is also seen. A few watercourses, crossed by our route, are directed to this lake. The ground consists
of fine gravel on soft dust, where the tracks of AN animals are very numerous.
To the south, our latitudinal valley is still bounded by the high range, the mightiest parts of which seem to have small glaciers. The valley farther on turns E. N. E., and is there the same as the one used by Deasy on his way between Arport-tso and Yeshil-kul in 1896. As I was bound for Central Transhinaalaya, I had to abandon this latitudinal valley, the sooner the better. At Camp CCCXII where the
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