On. the Sail Luke Inder. 19 



a plum line was lowered, and no bottom was found, with 180 

 feet of cord. The water impregnated with salt, which rests on 

 the solid stratum, is so shallow that one can traverse the lake in 

 every direction, either on foot or horseback. At the end of summer 

 the water is all dried up, and the lake is covered with salt as 

 white as snow recently fallen, and of great purity. 



Those who hve on the north side of the Cordon, use the salt 

 of this lake, but those who are more to the eastward, use the 

 salt of the lake in the Russian territory, being afraid to ven- 

 ture into the desert to supply themselves with the superior salt 

 of Inder. The lake has several salt springs in it, and to the 

 distance of ten or twelve versts round it, the water is so impreg- 

 nated with salt, that neither man nor beast is able to swallow it. 



The plants and insects that are found here are also peculiar 

 to the place ; but I have not been able to collect much informa- 

 tion regarding them, for it seems to be impossible to spend that 

 time in the vicinity of the lake, vvhich is requisite for a thorough 

 investigation of it. The disposition of the Kirguis is so hostile, 

 and their hordes are so numerous, that, notwithstanding Her- 

 mann was accompanied with a numerous escort, and field pieces, 

 it was impossible to make the tour of the lake. Indeed, 2000 

 Kirguis kebeeks or tents were pitched on the banks of the 

 River Kara Kiel, which runs parallel with the lake, at a few 

 versts distance : these they could not pass, and consequently on- 

 ly saw the centre of the lake, the salt of which, from the ex- 

 amination of specimens, was crystallized in cubes. 



From Mr Prescott, I learn that the vegetation of the lake 

 bears a strong resemblance to that of the Caspian Sea, and of 

 the salt and sandy steppes around it. The low bushes are prin- 

 cipally of the tribes of Polijgonea: and Salsolea', numerous 

 species of Salsola, Salicnrnia, Cnlligonum Palasia, Tamarix 

 and Atraphaxis. There are, however, some, as I said before, 

 j>eculiar to the place ; such as Leontia vesicaria, Molucella tit- 

 herosa, and Megacarpma lacineata, all curious in their structure. 

 For the short period during which it was possible to visit the lake, 

 the most interesting herbaceous plants observed were : numerous 

 Crucj/i'ra:, Ranunculi, Alia, Amari/llis tatarica, Astragali, 

 Carex physodcs, and a new genus, near Frittillaria, called Rhi- 

 nopctnlum by Dr Fischer, fiom its curious spur-like appendage 



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