An Inland Sea. 



up the defile I passed a Chinese guard-house, the occupants 

 of which were probably hibernating for the winter since not a 

 soul was visible. 



Beyond this point the road assumes a steeper gradient until 

 I reached the top of the Talki Pass, at an altitude of about 

 8,000 feet. Beneath the summit of the " dawan " Hes the Sairam 

 Nor, a vast sheet of blue water about 20 miles long by 15 broad, 

 and surrounded by high mountains, the view of snowy peaks in 

 Russian Turkistan to the north-west being magnificent. The 

 water of the lake is brackish and therefore undrinkable, and 

 fish are also said to be unknown in it, but it is marvellously clear 

 and one can see to a considerable depth. The banks slope away 

 precipitously from the water's edge, giving rise to the belief 

 that the lake is of immense depth. I saw several duck, but 

 without a boat it would be hopeless trying to do anything amongst 

 them. Just below the pass, on the southern shore of the lake, 

 is another Chinese fort, garrisoned by a few unhappy soldiers, 

 whose existence in this cold and windy spot must indeed be a 

 dull and cheerless one. 



The road folio w^s the southern shore of the lake to Santai, 

 situated at the eastern extremity, a small village with a serai, 

 in the courtyard of which we camped. 



A march east of Santai there were reputed to be gazelle in 

 great numbers; the Chinese term them " hwang yang," or 

 yellow sheep, and I think they are a near relation of the Yarkand 

 Gazelle {Gazella stihgutturosa yarcandensis). I therefore sent on 

 part of the caravan north-east through the hills to the Borotala 

 River, and went myself with Numgoon, Giyani and one servant 

 to endeavour to bag a specimen of the gazelle, thence intending to 

 cut through the hills to Borotala. 



We started on the 20th, along the main road, the Imperial 

 route to Pekin, and over which trade from Central China is 

 conducted. This trade probably assumes fair proportions for 

 on the way we met a caravan of 180 camels going down to 

 Kulja laden with tea and other commodities. 



319 



