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0292 Across Asia : vol.1
Across Asia : vol.1 / Page 292 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000221
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C. G. MANNERHEIM

hut to the S the slope runs into the hills that had wedged themselves between the Zaga Yulduz and the mountains. The wind had become a gale and the men suffered during the night, their tent-poles having been blown down. The cold was piercing, although the lowest

temperature during the night was not below   1.4'. — On the Russian 4o verst map
there are two rivers called Borgustai. The westerly river is probably the one my guide called Ulasta usun.

Early this morning we left our most uncomfortable camp. Soon we reached a spot, slightly higher than our camping place. Here the descent began, at first imperceptibly. The hill on the right which was insignificant yesterday, increased in height, and as we descended it became a mountain that gave the ground the characteristic appearance of a pass. Between this hill, known as Tsurin Kedrer ul, and the mountain to the N, which is here called Kotlen Khara indir ul, a gorge is formed, at the bottom of which the Chaptchka usun takes its source. At the entrance to the gorge we could see Chakhryn dawan to the SSW and Chargaty dawan to the SW. The road makes innumerable curves. Next to the murmuring water a line of small bushes was growing, the first we had seen since leaving the river Panma. The road kept shifting all the time from one stony slope to the other. The bed of the river was full of stones. The descent into the water was often difficult for the horses, who were incessantly tormented by the rough, stony ground. The gorge was quite narrow and the mountains not particularly high. For three or four miles the course was easterly or NE until the junction of the river with a tributary from the NW, Tulätang usun. The river gorge widened slightly. The river was 38 feet wide at this place with a stony bottom, 0.5 m deep, and the current swift. In all more or less open places there were traces of the Kalmuks' sojourn during the winter — stone fences for the cattle, quantities of dry droppings etc. It is inconceivable what their cattle live on in the winter, however little they require. The grass among the stones is unbelievably meagre.

About 2 I /2 miles below the afflux of the Tulätang usun the bushes growing on the edge of the water were replaced by trees that spread out slightly to the sides at times. The course of the river changed to ESE and soon to SE. On the left we passed a gorge, Kitang gol, that supplied a little water to the river from the N. The mountains, often with a high ledge close to the river, became much higher. Those on the left were called Sarty Tcnasko ul.

We passed a Kalmuk praying site on the right. On the left, on a high, steep ledge of the bank, lie the ruins of a small fort — parts of an earthen wall. Presently we passed another praying site on the right and a few miles further on two gorges, the mouths of which faced each other, Gurtö gol to the N and Tsurin Kedren gol to the S, each with a small watercourse. We met a couple of Kalmuk families moving westward with their miserably lean cattle, horses, cows and sheep. Just after passing the Ulan Zeckten gol gorge on the right the valley widens considerably and forms an open, flat space, 30o yards wide, with a little grass growing on it. In the N the Gultishim amna shevyr gorge opens up. We encamped not far from it. The distance covered to-day was not more than 18 (?) miles, but very exhausting for both men and beasts. I spent no less than I z i /2 hours in mapping.

July 2nd. Camp at Gultishim amna shevyr.

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