National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

56

At *Kara-su* the winter is cold and much snow falls, though less than in other
high valleys in the vicinity. The snow always is deepest at the *terskei* or shady
side of each valley, the *köngöi* or sunny side being more exposed. The prevailing
winter winds come from *Parpak* and *Hunserab, i. e.* from N. W. and S. W., the same
as in *Tibet*. The summer is less windy. All precipitation falls as snow. The Tajiks
of *Kara-su* belonged to the Vakhanlik tribe which seems to mean that they originated
from Vakhan. They pass the winter in *Marian* and *Tash-kurgan*.

The *Sänkar* or *Sängar Pass* leads to *Marian* and is said to be difficult.
*Ogri-art*, »The Thieves' Pass» (pronounced *Ograt*), is easier and leads to *Ütshe* or
*Üche*, across a first-class pass in the *Kashgar Range*. The pass of *Kara-su* is
called *Taldi-bel*, as willows *(tal)* grow on its eastern side in a gorge which lower
down joins the valley from the eastern side of *Ilik-su* before it reaches *Raskan-
darya*. The valley of *Ilik-su* is said to be very narrow, though at some wider
places grow *tokai* or forests of *tal* (willow) and *kayin* (birch). The amount of running
water is not very great, but the road is difficult on account of *korum*, gravel and blocks.

It would be a mistake to imagine the *Kashgar Range* as *one* range. The
orography is not so simple as that. To do so would be to make the same mistake
as to regard the Transhimalaya as one range. The *Sänkar* road to *Yarkand*, for
instance, is said to cross five passes, most of them difficult, and to take 12 days.
The *Kashgar Range* is in reality a very complicated *system of ranges*.

The *Raskan-darya* is also known as the *Serafshan* or »Gold-rolling River».
August 9th we travelled from the *Kara-su* camp into the *Ilik-su* valley, the
distance being 12 km. and the direction N. W. and N. E. Having crossed the brook
twice and left *Turuk* to the south, we began to climb the southern slope of the
ramification from the *Kashgar Range*, separating the *Kara-su* and *Ilik-su* valley
from each other. Here two small mountain shoulders at our right are called *Sarik-
tash* and *Kara-tash*. The slope becomes more and more steep and is covered with
detritus of schist and quartzite.

Finally we reach the secondary pass, *Otra-bel*, with an altitude of 4,467 m.
It is vaulted and easy though covered with detritus. The view is interesting. To
the north at the right side of the valley of *Ilik-su* is a hill called *Bash-yurt*, or,
according to other information *Bos-yurt*, at the base of which there are good *yeilaks*.
North of it is the large *jilga Ish-tur* leading to a pass of the same name and a
passage to *Raskan-darya*. Still farther north we see the valley leading to the pass
*Sarik-bel*. Opposite us, always at the right or northern side of the *Ilik-su* valley,
is the tributary valley of *Kalta-aul* without a road or pass but with good grass
and a brook. Just below us we have a bird's-eye view of the *Ilik-su* valley,
energetically eroded, narrow in its upper part, broad in its lower, and having a
brook surrounded with grazing-grounds.