THE "KURAI STEPPE" Si 



the side of a small tributary of the Tchouia, the 

 Tchibit. Here the scenery changed as we neared 

 the Kosh-Agatch plateau. The mountains grew 

 loftier on either side, and we could plainly dis- 

 tinguish snowy peaks in the distance. 



Next day we made our customary start at 5 a.m. 



UI' THE VALLEY OF THE TCHOUIA. 



The weather was much cooler, owing, probably, to 

 greater altitude. We now passed the " Kurai steppe," 

 a plateau of about twelve miles in length, bordered 

 on our right hand by the Kurai snow-clad range 

 (Kuraiskie belki), which we had seen for the first 

 time from the crest of the Saldjar pass. The 

 mighty crags reared their lofty heads in the sky 



