78 STEPPES AND DESERTS. 



Dzungarian Post, Chonimailachu, (sheep-bleating,) are 

 scarcely raised 850, or at the most 1170, feet above the level 

 of the sea. Pansner's older barometric measurements 

 (which, however, were not published until after my expedi- 

 tion), are confirmed by mine. Both refute the hypothesis 

 of Chappe, relative to the supposed high elevation of the banks 

 of the Irtysh, in Southern Siberia ; an hypothesis based on 

 estimations of river declivities. Even further to the East, 

 Lake Baikal is only 222 toises, or 1420 English feet, above 

 the level of the sea. 



In order to connect the idea of the relation of 

 the terms lowlands and highlands and of the various 

 gradations in the height of elevated plains or undulating 

 grounds, with actual examples ascertained by measurement, 

 I have subjoined a table, forming an ascending scale of such 

 districts in different parts of the Globe. What I have 

 said above respecting the mean height of those Asiatic 

 p ains, which I have termed lowlands, may be compared 

 with the following numbers : 



Toises. English feet. 



Plateau of Auvergne 170 1087 



" of Bavaria 260 1663 



" of CastiUe 350 2239 



" of Mysore 460 2942 



" of Caraccas 480 3070 



" of Popayan 900 5756 



" round Lake Tzana (in Abyssinia) . . . 950 6076 



" of the Orange River (in South Africa) 1000 6395 



" of Axum (in Abyssinia) 1100 7034 



" of Mexico 1170 7483 



" of Quito 1490 9528 



" of the Province de los Pastos 1600 10231 



" round Lake Titiaca . . 2010 12853 



