182 CHINESE TURKESTAN 



bank, while I do not suppose that the forest belt 

 can be anywhere more than a few miles wide. 



On the 2 Qth we met the water coming down, so 

 from this out our road was partly through the jungle 

 and partly along the edge of the channel, where the 

 going was now hard and good, the sand in most 

 places being wet. 



The river is said always to come down in three 

 floods, the third and last of which is the principal 

 one, and reaches the Tarim. The one we met was 

 the second, which was rather later than usual ; but 

 as far as grass, water, and a good road are con- 

 cerned, we probably made the journey at the best 

 time of the summer season. The nights were cool, 

 though during the day the sun was hot, the temper- 

 ature going up to 1 06 in a double-roofed tent. 



On the 3Oth we reached Yangi Daria (the New 

 River), where the stream has taken a shift to the 

 west, leaving a forest-clad island between its present 

 course and the now dry channel on the east. In 

 spite of the name, the change probably occurred 

 many years ago. 



Hereabouts the jungle belt must be pretty wide 

 and the country better watered, as I saw eight or 

 ten jeron, as well as lots of their tracks, also those 

 of pig and a few deer ; but tigers are said not to 

 come up this way, though there are a few on the 

 banks of the Tarim. 



On July 5th we passed Baksem, where the 



