KAMI, OR KUMUL 493 



this case, the boundary of the region to which we de- 

 voted ourselves was of necessity a pohtical one, the 

 Karhk Tagh on both north and south belonging to the 

 Khan of Kumul. This was the only point where our 

 work extended outside the natural boundaries of Dzun- 

 garia. 



The area of country over which the word of the 

 Khan is law, includes the entire mountain-group of 

 Karlik Tagh and the plains to the north, south, and east, 

 as far as Karlik Tagh water flows. The Tur Kul basin 

 on the north side of the range, and the eastern half of 

 the Metshin-ola, an offshoot of the main group, is in- 

 cluded, as is also the eastern portion of the Barkul basin, 

 beyond Kou-si. The Barkul range, as far north as the 

 watershed, is the Khan's, while the western boundary 

 of his territory is determined by the town of Lodun, or 

 Liao-tun, three stages along the high-road to Turfan. 



The fact that our goal lay entirely within the jurisdic- 

 tion of the Khan greatly simplified matters for us. 

 When we informed him of our plans he answered that 

 he and all his belongings were at our disposal ; we could 

 ask all we needed, and should lack nothing so long as 

 we were within his territory. Consequently, orders 

 were given to enable us to travel at our pleasure and 

 view the whole of his country; whilst letters were 

 sent ahead and the way prepared, we had time to 

 enjoy the beauties of the mountains which it had for 

 so long been our ambition to visit. 



