BAD WEATHER AND BAD HEALTH. 179
At length both the weather and my health improved, and I was able to continue my journey. Leaving Yepal Ungur, I went towards the west, intending to approach some of the peaks fixed by the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India. At the next camp the altitude was found to be only 15,900 feet, but the minimum thermometer, on the night of July 25th, showed that the temperature had fallen to 13° F. Notwithstanding the cold, we enjoyed the clear dry air after our long experience of foul weather.
In descending another tributary • of the Kiria, not shown on any map, we wasted a whole day. We reached a waterfall which was almost impassable, but, sending Abdul Karim forward to reconnoitre, I set to work to construct a path with stones on one side of the cataract, sufficient to enable the caravan to pass. By the time this road was finished Abdul came back and reported that, lower down, the valley contracted to a few yards and a second cataract made the descent impossible. Returning up the valley, we found the proper route, and crossing a lofty pass reached . Aksu, where survey work was. delayed by bad weather, and by my own bad health.
The great variation of temperature we had recently experienced had affected the rates of the chronometers, and I was doubtful_ about my longitude. To secure trustworthy values, I determined- to. commence triangulation at Aksu, carry the work back to ; Shor Kul, connect it with that done in 1896 at Yeshil Kul, and then endeavour to connect the whole with the triangulation ekecuted on the high plateau above Polu. - -
From the hill stations near Aksu I obtained- a view of several very prominent peaks in the Kwen Lun range, • including the fine double peak east of Polu. .To the east of Aksu was a large mountain which hid the snow-clad
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