500 THE KARLIK TAGH 



the neighbourhood of the highest peaks the ridge became 

 rough and serrated. Farther east the Barkul Range 

 dropped in altitude, thus allowing free intercourse 

 between Kumul and the northern steppes, over several 

 cols of between 8,000 to 9,000 ft. in height. At this 

 point the Karlik Tagh began, — a long, table-topped 

 ridge which gradually inclined from 9,000 ft. to the 

 summit of the highest peak in the centre of the range. 



The western Karlik Tagh showed a large expanse 

 of deep-lying snow-fields, which added to the grandeur 

 of this panoramic view, and emphasized the peculiar, 

 blocked-shaped formation of the range. Its plateau-like 

 summit was seamed by deep-cut, steep-sided ravines, 

 which led off the drainage. Even the highest peaks 

 visible from Kumul were of a rounded type, and did not 

 do justice to their height ; but immediately to the east 

 of the culminating point the formation changed, the 

 plateau broke up and fell off into excessively rough 

 country, with lofty, tooth-like pinnacles and jagged 

 peaks, well worn, razor-edged ridges, splintered precipices, 

 and V-shaped valleys. The snow-line extended for over 

 thirty miles in length, and over this area, even in summer, 

 no pass or track is known by which man can cross the 

 range from north to south. Barren, stony plains led 

 up to the foot-hills, which rose suddenly in the form of 

 a rough, steep ridge of sandstone. This the desert had 

 waged war upon and successfully overrun, but beyond 

 these outlying foot-hills the higher slopes showed welcome 

 green of forest, above which naked rock and shale-slopes 

 led up to stainless, untrodden snow-fields. 



Whilst waiting for our transport arrangements to be 

 completed, we made a short trip to the foot of the 

 mountains, which gave us a good impression of the nature 



