274 SCHLAGINTWEITS' JOURNEY [Jan. 26, 1857. 



reacli the summit of the Sassar La — 20,000 feet — from which we 

 had, as we anticipated, a very extensive and interesting view of the 

 large groups of glaciers surrounding the Pass, one of the largest 

 accumulations of glaciers in the Kuen-luen. 



From the Sassar Pass, our route brought us to the large plateau to 

 the south of Karakorum, the mean elevation of which reaches 17,000 

 feet. On the 9th August we crossed, without any difficulty, the 

 frontier of Turkistan.* 



We were accompanied by Mani, the Putwaree of Nilum ; by 

 Marshoot, a former servant of Moorcroft ; and by Mahomed Amir, 

 an aged Turkistani, whom we found particularly useful on account 

 of his general knowledge of the country. 



We had besides, six horses for ourselves and servants, thirteen for 

 baggage, five Yarkandis, and some fifteen sheep and goats. 



The Yarkandis, with horses and provisions, we sent on, and we 

 only met them by chance at Nubra. 



Our servants from the plain, accompanied us as far as Sassar, from 

 w^hence we travelled dressed as Yarkandis. 



The day before we passed the Karakorum, at 18,300 feet, we met 

 a large caravan of merchants from Yarkand, to whom we gave out 

 that we intended to march on the Yarkand road, but, as soon as we 

 had passed Karakorum, we left this road and went to the east of 

 Kizilkorum, 17,400 feet, the high-water parting between Yarkand 

 and the Karakash river. In one day we crossed four passes, ex- 

 ceeding 17,000 feet above the sea, but only slightly elevated above 

 the surrounding plateaus. 



From Kizilkorum, we followed the direction of the principal 

 chain of the Kuen-luen, now turning to the south-south-east, till we 

 reached a lake, Kiuk-kiul, slightly salt, situated at the northern foot 

 of the Chanchcumo. 



Up to this point, our route had chiefly led us over extensive 

 plateaus 16,000 to 17,000 feet above the level of the sea, of a 

 much greater extent than those to the south of Karakorum ; but from 

 the lake we followed the valley of the Karakash river, to the right 

 of which there are no plateaus, while to the left they extend as far 

 as Suget. 



The sterility of the plateaus to the north of Karakorum, as well 

 as of the Karakash Valley, is quite surprising ; and without the 

 frequent, though not very abundant showers, chiefly caused by the 



* See Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, No. IV., 1856, p. 344, for 

 Travels in 1852 from Cashmere through Yarkand, Kokan, Bokhara, and Cabul, 

 iu search of Mr. Wyburd. — Ed. 



