GEOLOGY. 35 



PAET VI. 



FROM YANGIHISSAR, KASHGHAR, TO PANJAH, IN WAKHAN, BY THE LITTLE PAMIR, AND 



RETURN JOURNEY BY THE GREAT PAMIR. 



[Tins section, like that describing the country between Mari and Leh, is simply compiled 

 from Dr. Stoliczka's diary. It commences from Yangihissar, two marches, or about 40 miles, 

 from Kashghar, on the road to Yarkand. Thence the route followed led in a south-west direction 

 through the district of Sarikol (Sirikol) to the frontier of Wakhan, at or near Aktash, a 

 distance of about 150 miles in a direct line, and thence in a west-south-west direction for 120 

 miles more across the Pamir steppe to Panjah or Kila Panjah in Wakhan. The road from the 

 Yarkand frontier to Panjah traverses a district known as the Little Pamir, and follows the more 

 southern of the two streams which unite near Panjah to form the head of the Amu or Oxus; the 

 return route to Aktash was by the northern stream (that followed by Wood) and the Victoria 

 lake. From Aktash the party with which Dr. Stoliczka was associated returned by the same 

 route as before to Yangihissar. The geological notes made on this portion of the return east- 

 ward journey have been incorporated with those made in the same localities on the westward 

 route. The former largely supplement the latter, which were made when the ground was 

 much concealed by snow.] 



March 21st, Yangihissar to Ighiz Yar. Started for Sarikol under Gordon, with Bid- 

 dulph and Trotter. March of about 18 miles almost due south. A mile from Yangihissar 

 we crossed several low ridges, extending for about a couple of miles, of what appeared 

 to be upper Artysh beds, consisting of sand, clay, and conglomeratic beds. The dip was at 

 first north by east, then the beds were horizontal, and further on they dipped to south by 

 west. Crossed the Yangihissar stream, and traversed, first, a saline plain, and then one of 

 gravel. The ascent throughout was very gradual, but must have amounted altogether to 

 more than 1,000 feet. 



March 22nd, Aktala. A march of about 18 miles, chiefly in a south-western direction. 

 The low hills west of Ighiz Yar are composed of lower Artysh beds, hardened greenish sand- 

 stones much contorted. 1 Leaving Ighiz Yar, we crossed the plain for about 3 miles, and 

 then entered the narrow valley of the Piin or Ring river. 



The rocks at the entrance are lower Artysh sandstones, much contorted and disturbed. 

 They continue for fully a mile, and are then succeeded by greenish sandstones and shales 

 of a much older appearance. These rocks are again at first very much disturbed, but further 

 on they dip regularly at a low angle to west by south, or even to west. The general dip, 

 however, appears to be north-east. Nearer to the camp Aktala, the sandstones and slates 

 alternate with highly carbonaceous shales and slates, and some highly ferruginous or hsema- 



1 On the return route from the Pamir and Wakhan on this march from Aktala to Ighiz Yar the following remark occurs : " The 

 same slates and thin-bedded sandstones continue all the way. Towards the plain they alternate with coarser and conglomeratic 

 beds ; but they all appear to belong to the same old series." I infer from this that Dr. Stoliezka was finally inclined to believe that 

 the rocks near Ighiz Yar, which he at first assigned to the Artysh beds (tertiary), were really older. 



