grow on the opposite bank which faces N and in the bed of the river. The road took us down the slope and along the bed or along the top of the nearest ledge of the bank. The open ground above it is a rolling plain intersected by water-channels with deep and steep beds. Quite close to the S the snow-capped peaks of the mountains are visible. All the slopes facing N are covered with firs. We encamped by the river in the shelter of a clump of trees. Here again we came across some poor yurts inhabited by Kalmuks (Durban summun), who are employed in watching the cattle and horses of the Kirghiz, as there is excellent pasturage. Lower down the river the pasturage is much worse.
To-day I returned from shooting in the mountains. I spent the night on the top of a mountain and climbed about with Numgan for over seven hours along the wooded slopes. Our efforts proved successful. I shot a bugha with 12-branched antlers. There were many traces of bugha and »ilok».
A yigit, whom I had sent to reconnoitre the road over Däbrin dawan and Sarvytur to Qaragai tash, reported that it was impassable at present owing to water and snow. From the mouth of the Little Dshirgalan you can reach Qaragai tash in 2 or 3 days by this road, but the ascent and descent of the pass are said to be so steep that it is difficult to negotiate them with pack-horses.
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