831 



THIAN SHAN NANLU. 



THIAN SHAN NANLU. 



834 



Bucharia, or rather Bokharia, to distinguish it from Western or Proper 

 Turkistan, which is called Bucharia without any epithet. Thian Shan 

 Nanlu, in Chinese, signifies the 'southern road of the Thian Shan 

 Mountains,' and has been applied to the countries south of that 

 mountain system, because they are traversed by the southern of the 

 two great commercial roads which connect China Proper with the 

 countries of Western Asia, whilst the countries north of the Thian 

 Shan are traversed by the northern commercial road, and on that 

 account are called Thian Shan Pelu, 'the northern road of Thian 

 Shan.' The last-mentioned countries constitute the government of 



IH, Or SllN'iAHIA. 



Thin Shan Nanlu lies between 36 and 44 N. lat, and extends from 

 71 to 9(5 E. long. From east to west it extends about 1250 miles, 

 and its width from south to north varies between 550 and 300 mill's. 

 Ita area probably exceeds 500,000 square miles. It is bounded N. by 

 Songaria, or Thian Shan Pelu ; E. by the province of Kansi and South 

 Tibvt. On the south-west is Ladakh, on the west Kunduz, including 

 Bud.akshan and Bokhara, and on the north-west Khokan. 



Ti:i in Shan Nanlu ia a country entirely isolated from the rest of 

 the world. On tha north, west, and south it is inclosed by mountain 

 ranges of such extent and elevation that the places which are perma- 

 nently inhabited can only be reached by passing for several days over 

 mountains, which are not inhabited except for two or three months in 

 the year, when they are vbited by a few families of wandering tribes 

 of mountaineers. On the eat of Thian Shan Nanlu is an extensive 

 desert, which appears to be uninhabitable. The country inclosed by 

 the three ranges and the desert receives an abundant supply of water 

 from the mountains, a considerable portion of which is always covered 

 with snow, and the numerous rivers which descend from them form a 

 large river, called the Tarim, which is as large as the Danube, and 

 terminates in an extensive lake situated on the western edge of the 

 desert The basin of the river Tarim u the largest closed river-basin 

 on the globe. 



Monn taint. At the south-western angle of Thian Shan Nanlu 

 stands aa extensive mountain knot called Pushtikhur, which occupies 

 the space between 36 and 37 N. lat., 71 and 74 E. long. From it* 

 western side iwuts that elevated chain which is known in Afghanistan 

 by the name of Hindu Knuh; from its northern edge another range, 

 called the Tsrtanhling, or Bolor-Tagb, which extends northward ; and 

 in the eastern part begins a third range, which traverses tha whole of 

 Central Ania, and extends through China Proper to the shore* of the 

 Pacific. This last-mentioned range is called by the Chinese Knenluen, 

 but that portion of it which is contiguous to the mountain-knot of 

 i'ii-litikhur goes by the name of Thsungling. 



The Tin ucgling may be considered a* that portion of the Kuenluen 

 range which extends from the Pushtikhur on the west (72 E. long.) 

 to the mountain-pass of Karakornm on the east (between 76* and 

 77 li. long.), and occupies nearly the whole of the space between 35' 

 and ;- N. lat. Little ia known of this region, bat it is stated that 

 a mass of perpetual snow coven these mountains for more than 300 

 miles in length, and that on their northern declivity there is a con- 

 tinuance of rain for three successive months. That portion of the 

 Kuenluen range which is east of the Pasa of Karakorum ia still leu 

 known. Two roads traverse the Kuenluen range. The most western 

 leads through the Kurakorum Pass from Hindustan and Casbmir by 

 the way of Leh in Ladakb, to K ho ten in Thian Shan Nanlu. The 

 highest part of the pas* probably doe* not exceed 12,000 feet above 

 the sea-level. This road is much more frequented in winter than in 

 summer, became the melting of the snow on the jnountain* adjacent 

 to the road renders travelling in summer almost impossible. The 

 eastern road connect* the town of Lhaasa in Tibet with Khoten, and 

 traverse* a very mountainous country of great extent, passing near 

 the large lake of Tengri-Nor, and issuing from the mountain* by the 

 narrow valley in which the town of Kenya ia built 



The western districts of the Thian Shan Nanlu are occupied by 

 icvcral ranges, belonging to the Tartashling, or Bolor-Tagh. This 

 mountain-system extends north of the mountain-knot of Pushtikhur, 

 from 37' to near 41 N. lat, where it descends with long slopes 

 towards the valley of the river Sihoon, or Jaxartes. In the interior 

 of the mountain region, and within the boundary-line of Thian Shan 

 Nanlu, an extensive elevated plain occur*, which U called the table- 

 land of Pamir. The elevation of this table-land is so great, that no 

 trees are found on it, and travellers feel their respiration rendered 

 difficult by the rarefaction of the air. The nomadic Kirghis, who 

 visit this elevated region in summer on account of it* excellent 

 pastures, keep herd* of camel* and sheep, and of kasbgow, or yaks. 

 [liADAKsifA.f.) Among the wild animals peculiar to this region are the 

 kutch-kar and the rasa. 



The Thian Shan range extend* along the northern boundary-line of 

 Thian Shan Nanlu, which is separated by it from the government of 

 III This mountain range ha* been noticed under SOXOABIA, where 

 also the road is mentioned which connects Thian Shan Nanlu with the 

 government of Hi. 



AirtVt. The largest supply of water is derived from the Tartasli- 

 ling, in which three of the great branches of the Tarim Kivcr rise. 

 The principal branch originate* within the mountain region in a large 

 lake, called Karakol, which ia situated near 39' N. lat, and receive* 

 the drainage of a considerable country which surrounds it on all sides. 

 0100. DIV. VOL. IT. 



The river issuing from this lake runs eastward, and is called Yaman- 

 yar. It leaves the mountain region below Tashbalik, near 73 30' 

 E. long., and ia soon afterwards joined from the north by the Kathgar 

 Daria, which brings to it the drainage of the north-eastern part of 

 the Tartashling. Near the point of confluence the rivers are met by 

 a third river, the Kezyl Dana, which flows about 200 miles in a direc- 

 tion from east to west, and brings down the waters collected on the 

 mountain-chain which unites the Tartasb ling to the Thian Shan. After 

 the union of these three branches the river continues to be called 

 Kashgar Daria, and to flow eastward for 300 miles; between 80 and 

 Sl K long., it is joined from the north by the Atsu Daria, from tho 

 west by the Yurkiany Dana, and from the south by the Khotan 

 Daria, which flow respectively from the Thian Shan, the Tartashling, 

 and the Kuenluen mountains, and are from 300 to 400 miles in 

 length. 



After the confluence of these several branches the river is called 

 Tarim, or Tarim-gol, and continues to flow in a nearly due east direc- 

 tion for 400 miles more, when, near 88 E. long., it is lost in an exten- 

 sive lake, Lop- Nor, which U surrounded by still more extensive 

 swamps. No river joins the Tarim from the south, east of 81 

 E. long., but it receives a considerable supply of water from the 

 Thian Shan Mountains, by two rivers, the Ukiat, or Chagar Daria, and 

 the Barun Yulduz, or Kaidu River. The Ukiat Daria runs more than 

 200 miles in a south-east direction, and joins the Tarim near 84 

 E. long. The Kaidu River is probably the largest of the confluents 

 of the Tarim, as it collect* the drainage of the Thian Shan Mountains 

 between 80 and 87 E. long. Its course for about 100 miles is in an 

 elevated valley, parallel to the Thian Shan range from east to west, 

 after which it drains another parallel valley about 200 miles long by 

 an eastern course, and falls into a large lako called ustu-Nur, which 

 is surrounded on the north and south by chains of high hills, but on 

 the east by a sandy desert In the hills which inclose the lake ou the 

 south is a break by which the Bostu Nor discharge* it* waters into 

 the Tarim. The whole course of the Tarim amount* to nearly 1200 

 mile* in a straight line, or about 1500 miles including the windings of 

 the river. 



The Plain is of great extent, measuring on an average more than 

 300 mile* from north to south, and about 900 mile* from west to east 

 It ia about 2000 feet above the sea-level. The e&stern part* of it 

 are a complete desert, which occupies the whole country east of 88 

 E. long., and surrounds the lakes of Lop-Nor and Bostu-Nor on the 

 east South of the river Tarim it extend* westward to the banks of 

 the Khotan Daria (81 K long.), so that it covers about one-half of tho 

 plain. The worst part is that which lies east of 88 K. long., and ia 

 called Han-hai, or the Dry Sea. It* surface ia covered with a very 

 fine sand, which is frequently raised into the air by the wind, so that 

 the trace* of the caravan* soon disappear. Through this desert ia 

 the nearest road from China to Hami in Thian Shan Nalu. On tho 

 north, where it approaches the Thian Shan range, this vast extent of 

 desert i* skirted by a narrow tract of hilly ground, which is fit for 

 cultivation or used a* pasture-ground. Ita width may vary between 

 20 and 30 miles, and it ia in many places abundantly watered by 

 rivers which descend from the mountain* on the north, but which in 

 soon as they have traversed the hilly region are lost in the sand of 

 the Han-hai. Only a small portion of this tract can be irrigated, but 

 it ia cultivated with the utmost care, and produces various grains, 

 vegetable*, and fruits. It ia especially famous all over China for its 

 excellent melon* and grape*. Cotton i* also grown. The greater part 

 of this tract however ia uaed a* pasture-ground for horse?, camels, 

 cattle, and sheep. 



The country west of 88 E. long., and between the Tarim River and 

 the Thian Shan Mountain*, contains a much larger portion of culti- 

 vable ground, especially in the valleys of the Barun Yulduz, or Kaidu 

 River. The hills inclosing the valley rise probably more than 1000 

 feet above their base, and are used aa pasture-ground. Along the 

 base of the southern ridge of hills are alto considerable tracts of 

 cultivated land. 



Farther west, between 84* and 80 E. long., the hilly country ia 

 not o wide, extending only to the distance of 40 to 50 miles from 

 the Thian Shan Mountain*. The hills also have less elevation, and 

 yield only a scanty supply of water for irrigation. Between 77 and 

 60" E. long. U the valley of the Aksu Daria, which ia inclosed by liL-h 

 hills, and in its upper part contains very extensive tracts of fertile 

 land, which are cultivated with great care, producing every kind of 

 grain, and a variety of excellent fruits. The rich pastures feed herds 

 of horses, sheep, camels, and cattle. 



In the plain, west of the Aksu Daria, which extends between tho 

 Kasbgar Daria and the Thian Shan Mountains, tho cultivated land 

 seem* to be almost entirely limited to the bottom of the Kezyl Daria, 

 where considerable tracts produce rico and other grain in abundance, 

 as well aa rich crop* of cotton. The uplands north of the river pro- 

 duce abundance of grass during some part* of the year, and an us <! 

 aa pasture-grounds by the Kara Kirghis, or Black Kirghis, who go in 

 summer with their herds of hones and camels to the Thian Shan 

 Mountains. The upland* between the Kezyl Daria and the Kashgar 

 Daria have a sandy soil. 



The western districts of the Thian Shan Nanlu, orthosa which extend 

 at the base of the Tartaahling, are not more favourable to cultivation 



3 H 



