276 SCHLAGINTWEITS' JOURNEY [Jan. 26, 1857. 



time was far advanced for our intended tour in Caslimir. The dis- 

 tance from the northern foot of the Kuen-luen was one and a half 

 day's journey. Already at Bushia the Alpine character of the 

 central Kuen-luen had disappeared, the height in the environs of 

 Bushia not exceeding 11,000 feet. We left Pumgal on August 29th, 

 and followed, for three marches, the valley of the Karakash river, 

 which flows from Pumgal to Sugetin a westerly direction, then takes 

 a sharp turn to the north, and then flows for the most part in an east- 

 north-easterly direction. We met on this road with very large 

 quarries and mines, from which is dug the Yashen stone, and which 

 are resorted to by people living at great distances. We were 

 enabled to procure, for future analysis, a good supply of this stone, 

 which is very much valued throughout Central Asia. 



Suget, a halting-place on the winter-road to Yarkand, is six 

 ordinary marches distant from Karakorum ; from Suget to Karakash, 

 another town of Khotan, is six marches. 



After due deliberation, we started, on the 1st of September, with 

 Mohamed Amir and only two laden horses, leaving everything we 

 could do without, including our little tent. 



Some instruments, blankets, furs, and provisions were all our 

 baggage. 



We succeeded in making in twelve days about 220 English miles 

 across the central parts of the Kuen-luen (25 marches of the Russian 

 itinerary route from Yarkand to Leh). We reached Leh in the 

 evening of the 12th of September. The countiy between Suget 

 and the Karakash Pass was new to us ; we had here a very good 

 opportunity of examining the plateaus above mentioned and de- 

 termining the mean elevation. We had also, before we reached 

 the Pass, a very extensive view of the highest central peaks, 

 which we tried to draw on the scale of 1 degree to 1 centi- 

 metre. 



From this point we wished to follow the Shayuk river, as the 

 route would have taken us through country new to us. We also 

 met, amongst many others, a caravan with fourteen dromedaries, 

 not unfrequently used for carrying loads on the Yarkand road ; they 

 are the produce of a singular cross between yaks and kiangs (sic)^ 

 and inhabit heights of 1 6,000 to 1 8,000 feet. We succeeded in getting 

 two of them (remarkably docile animals), expecting to find them 

 particularly useful in crossing the frequent rapids in the Shayuk 

 river, as well as the glaciers and rocks so common in these parts. 

 But, notwithstanding the height and power of these animals, wo 

 found it impossible to go down the Shayuk valley. The river had 

 much subsided, compared with its height when we crossed in the 



