slopes have now Ix'conu' ([uilt' lie rlcss. and llic j^round Ihmc is occupied by a dr\ and 

 slii'l' sicppc grass, wliilc for (lie iaicli, lor sonic Icnj^ld of lime, liicrc is still a place of 

 rclreat on Ihc noiUicrn declivities. As the general direction ot the river in these tracts 

 is just north-south, (see niaj) II) and tiie folds in the landscape through which the river 

 bursts, are parallel with the mountain range, i. e. east-west, the traveller going by the 

 river will see a scenery of a \ery sliange character. l""or wlien looking southwards 

 here, (he cool, wooded slo|)es faciuL; noilh may be seen in IVonl. and liic wiiole comdry 

 looks wood-clad. On the other hand, if (he traveller runs his eye northwards, in the 

 direction of the slojx's facing south, the counliy looks naked, dry and scorched, having 

 the character of a perfect steppe. The boundaries between the forest and the steppe 



Vin. 64. I-'rom the Vi'iiist-i valley, near Ujuk, view northwards. The 

 hanks on the left side of the i)hoto{<i-apli facing south and south west, 

 and being exposed to the hurnini^ rays of the sun, are completely 

 treeless, while the dcelivilies facin}^ north on the op|)osite banks are 

 grown with larch forest. 



vegetation follows the hill-tops rather accurately. But the dryness always increasing 

 soon expels the larch altogether, being thinned and disappearing also on the declivities 

 facing north; thus, the country here gradually passes into a completely treeless territory, 

 where the steppe scenery prevails. The air is mild and dry, and from the river may be 

 heard the grating music of the numerous grass-hoppers from the steppes. Within an 

 amazingly short distance the scenery has changed its character from moist, dark taiga 

 into dn', scorched steppe. When going downstream, the traveller passes the whole tran- 

 sition zone showing the serai development of the flora in the course of few hours. 

 The last remainder of forest disappears between Tjuk and Tapsa. 



93 



