II 



80NOARIA. 



SONQARIA. 



th* UM KalBMok SWpp*. between UM lower Volga, and tiki Btaok Sea, 

 mmttHmtm to mart wntorn part. 



TM bUunns which (enarato* tbeae two larg* desert, i. connected 

 S6* N. lat) with the rang* of the Hindu Koosh, 

 i (Mar SO* N. lat) with the wsstsrn extremity of the 



L South of 40 it UM north and south, and oompre- 



UM OMntri** known under Urn namei of Badakhan and Bok- 

 North of 40" it lie* south-wont and norlh-est, and comprehends 

 UM eountri** called Kokand and Songaria, South of 40* N. lat the 



I i from UM ewrated Gobi to UM low Caspian De*ert is formed 



by an lltvatii rang*, a great part of which 1* always covered with 

 now. and MM d**aant to rapid ; bat north of 40* V. 1st, and especially 

 in ntflnrfc, it fa formed by a number of extensive terrace*, which, 

 taken tagathtr, *xUnd from *a*t to we*t over a space of 500 miles. 



On UM **Mt Roogaria open* to the Gobi, and on the west to the 

 TTss|ihii Dt**rt; bt on the north and south it is bounded by two 

 )*va|*d mottotahv range*, the Thin-hn and the Altai Mountains. 

 Tw *pao* b*tw**n the two range* i* traversed by numerous minor 

 rasjf**, which lie in every direction, and divide the surface into nume- 

 roo* i iix bsniin). which are entirely separated from one another, and 

 eceh of which cooUin* a lake, the receptacle of its drainage. 



fT**-WUa HoitUoita. This extensive range of mountains extends 

 in M> wrotsrn prolongation far into the Caspian Desert. The most 

 western branch i* known by the name of Ak-tagh, which occurs about 

 50 mile* N. from Samarcand in Bokhara, near 41 N. lat, 67 E. long. 

 Frwn this point it extends eastward to the east of the meridian cf the 

 town of Hami in Chinese Turkistan ; and seems, as far as is known, 

 to terminate near WE. long. The extent from west to east is about 

 1400 mil**. The Thian-shan do not greatly deviate from a circle of 

 InHlnili, a* their western extremity is near 41 N. lat, and their 

 eastern between 43 and 44 N. Ut 



Th* Ji-Mp* rise* boldly oat of the steppe, but not to a great 

 , nor doe* it occupy a great width. Where it approaches the 

 rom the high table-land to the lower country it decreases in 

 and width, and takes the name of the Atferak Mountains. 

 At the road which traverses the chain between Kaahgar in Chinese 

 Turkistan, and Khokhmnd, the range is probably 100 miles across, 

 and rise* so high that it is covered with snow nearly the whole year 

 round : some part* even seem to rise above the snow-line. East of 

 this road the mountain* are called Mui-tagh, or Moonoor, and this 

 name ha* bean adopted to designate the range of the Thian-shan as 

 far east a* UM great man of the Bogdo Oblo Mountains, near 85 

 K. long. The western part of the Mus-tagh is stated to contain many 

 high summits which are always covered with snow ; but south of the 

 Lake of Iwikal, or Temurtoo, where it is crossed by two roads leading 

 from Kuldsha, or Hi, to Ushi and Kashgar, the mountains are much 

 below UM snow-line. About 60 miles farther east however, where 

 tho road between Knldsha and Aksoo traverses the chain, the snow- 

 mane* occupy from 9 to 10 miles of the central portion of the range, 

 and the** mames are stated to extend to a great distance east and west 

 of the road. The higher portion is said to occupy about 40 miles in 

 width ; and when the lower heights which are contiguous to it on both 

 aide* are added, the whole breadth of the Thian-shsn at the road can 

 hardly be less than 80 miles. East of 85 K. long, is the Bogdo Oola, 

 which lie* north of Karashar, and seems to be the most elevated and 

 mo*t extensive mountain mass of the Thian-shan. According to the 

 information of the native*, the masses of snow and ice, and the glaciers 

 which cover it* summit, occupy a great space, and attain a considerable 

 elevation above the snow-line. There is no road over this range 

 between that which leads from Kuldsha to Kntche (83 E. long.), and 

 another by which the range is traversed west of Turfan (89 E. long.), 

 a distance of 300 miles. The most eastern part of the Thian-shan, or 

 that which lies between 89 and 95 E. long., is very little known. 

 Along the road west of Turfan, which leads from this place northward 

 to Urumtai, there are some snow-covered mountains; but farther east 

 the range i* considerably lower, and near 95 E. long, it terminates as 

 abruptly in the eastern deceit as the Aktagh rises in the western. It 

 is indeed (opposed that this mountain range continues through the 

 Gobi until it unite*, near 106* or 107* E. long., with the In-shan, 

 which lies north of the great northern bend of the Hoang-ho ; but 

 this supposition is not borne out by the scanty information that we 

 POMBSS about this part of Asia. 



AUat JtfMMtasiu. The Altai Mountains which bound Songaria on 

 UM north an described in a separate article. [ALTAI MoORTiras.] 

 Tho part of UM Alto! range which lies south of the rivers Narym and 

 BokhUrma, and consequently within the Chinese empire, and in 

 Songaria, ha* been found to be the most elevated part of this moun- 

 tain .ytem which i. known. South-east of the Kolson or Kolzun 

 Btalki, or the Snow-Mountain* of Kolson, which are tho highest in 

 Siberia, i* what is called by the Kusians the Kurtshum BJelki, or the 

 |-MounUios of Kurtohum, which attain a much greater elevation, 



field above which 

 8* 20' E. long., 

 , or Great Altai. 



i Sntpnria. It was formerly supposed that 

 a oontjnaons elevated chain of mountains connected tho Mus-tagh with 

 tho Altai Mountain*, and that this chain ran in a direction south-west 

 and Bortb-cMt Such a chain docs not exist There is however an 



***_**** " th * ir oow - T *d top* an extensive ice-field i 

 no ommit row*. But a vry high summit stands near 88* 

 and this properly is called by the natives Kgtag Altai, or C 



uninterrupted continuation of high ground between both mountain 

 systems. So far as is known, this high ground does not in any place 

 fall to the common level of the country, nor even sink low enough to 

 Ion th* appellation of mountains, and in some places it rises above 

 the snow-lino. Tha most elevated portion is the range called Jrrn 

 Jikabiryan, which at its eastern extremity is connected with the Bogdo 

 Oola. From the point of connection with that mass it first runs north- 

 west, but afterwards turns west, and may be said to terminate with a 

 considerable depression north of the town of Hi, or Kuldsha. The 

 length of this chain may be about 200 miles, and we infer that it 

 must rise to a great elevation and contain much snow on its summits, 

 from the circumstance that tho great road from Pi king to Kuldsha 

 traverse* the chain at the depression north of Kuldsha, and does not 

 cross it farther east, though if it did the road would be considerably 

 shorter. The western continuation of the Iren Khabirgan is called 

 the Tolcty Mountain*. This chain soon turns to the north-west and 

 north, and extends along the western shore of Lake Alakul, or 

 Alaktau-knl, until it terminates at the Tarbayatai Mountains. This 

 last-mentioned chain runs cast and west. The Tokty Mountains are 

 of moderate elevation, but it is stated that near Lake Alakul a summit 

 occurs which is always covered with snow. The chain is much lower 

 which extends from tho northern declivity of the Tarbagatai Moun- 

 tains first northward and then north-eastward, until it terminates on 

 the banks of the river Irtish, constituting in this part the boundary 

 between the empires of China and of Russia. This most northern 

 prolongation is called the Kheirek Mountaint, which are separated 

 from the Altai by the narrow valley of the Irtish. Another chain of 

 mountains is connected with the Tokty Mountains near the south- 

 western corner of the Alakul Lake. It is called Ala-tan, a name 

 frequently occurring in theso parts of Asia ; and it extends first east- 

 ward to a short distance, and then north-east, until it joins the Egtag, 

 or Great Altai, near the sources of the Irtish. The eastern extremity 

 of the Tarbagatai Mountains is immediately connected with the Ala- 

 tau. The Tarbagatai Mountains run about 400 miles east and west, 

 and terminate, like the Ak-tagh, abruptly in the western desert 

 They seem to rise from 4000 to 6000 feet above the sea, aud in some 

 places snow in small patches is found even in summer. These ridges, 

 and some others, less elevated or less known, divide the greater part 

 of Songaria into numerous closed basins. 



The basin of Lake Issikul, or Temurtoo, occupies the most south- 

 western part of Songaria. The lake is nearly 100 miles long from east 

 to west, and about 35 miles wide. At no great distance from its shores 

 mountains inclose it on all sides, from which the lake receives a great 

 supply of water. The surplus waters are carried off by the Tchoui, a 

 river which leaves the lake at its western extremity, and traverses a 

 great extent of the Khirghis Desert On the south of the lake is the 

 Mus-tagh, and on the north of it is a chain called Ala-tau. It is said 

 that these mountains contain iron ore which is worked. 



East and north of Lake Issikul is the basin of the river Hi, which 

 falls into the Lake of Balkash. It is the largest and most important 

 of the basins of Songaria; it extends more than 400 miles east and 

 west, and about 100 miles south and north, and probably has an area 

 of 40,000 square miles. The Hi is formed by two head streams, the 

 larger of which originates between 81 and 82 E. long., and runs 

 under the name of Tekes north-east for more than 100 miles ; the 

 other and smaller branch originates in the angle between the Iren 

 Khabirgan and the Bogdo Oola, and runs west. From the place where 

 these branches unite the river is called Hi, and runs to the west, 

 inclining towards its termination to the north-west. It falls into Lake 

 Balkash by several arms, after a course of more than 300 miles. Lake 

 Balkash is the largest of the lakes of Songaria, and has no outlet, 

 though it receives several other rivers from the north and east The 

 eastern half of the Hi basin has a very hilly surface, but it contains 

 numerous tracts which are fit for agriculture. Since it has fallen 

 under the sway of the Chinese the government has sent there a great 

 number of military colonies, Mongols and Mandshoos, who unite 

 agriculture with the breeding of cattle. Chinese convicts also are 

 transported to the banks of the III These Chinese are said to have 

 already greatly contributed to change the face of the country by 

 introducing several branches of cultivation. Farther west, about 80" 

 E. long., the hills disappear, and the surface sinks to a level. The soil 

 is much less fertile, and is chiefly covered with extensive bogs, in 

 which only canes and rushes abound. It is nearly a desert, mainly 

 tenanted by innumerable herds of wild bogs and other animals ; but 

 in approaching the country of the Khirghis Cossaks, south of Lake 

 Balkash, it becomes a dry steppe, affording pasture-ground for horses, 

 cattle, and sheep for several months in the year. 



North of the eastern part of the basin of the river Hi, and sepa- 

 rated from it by the Iren Khabirgan and the Tokty Mountains, is the 

 basin of the Lake of Borotala, which is followed on the east by that 

 of the Lake of Ayai; whose eastern extremity is contiguous to the 

 basin of the Lake Khulussutai. The three basins occupy a line of at 

 least 460 miles from east to west, near 45 N. lat Only the western 

 portion of the first basin has been visited by Europeans, and of the 

 others some account is given in the Chinese geography. According 

 to this information, it seems that this region, which extends to the 

 base and over the northern declivities of the Thian-shan, is well 

 watered, as a number of small rivers descend from the snow-covered 



