BARKUL 529 



In strong contrast to the corn-lands and pastures 

 was an isolated group of high sand-dunes, lying at 

 the south-eastern corner of the basin, between the gaps 

 which lead through the surrounding mountain-wall to 

 Tur Kul and Kumul. This is the most remarkable 

 physical feature of the Barkul basin. It should be 

 understood that the entire flora of the basin is more or 

 less saturated with water, being a mountain-girt hollow 

 into which flows a constant drainage from the snow- 

 clad ranges on the south. Nowhere does the land 

 present any sign of being deprived of moisture, and 

 therefore it is not a desiccated area. Yet this peculiar, 

 miniature sand-desert suddenly makes its appearance 

 in the midst of fertility and pasture. The sand-dunes 

 cover only a small area of six or seven square miles, but 

 attain a great height and are a landmark from afar. 

 Neither in the sand-areas of Dzungaria, nor in Chinese 

 Turkestan, nor even in the great sand-belt of Trans- 

 caspia had we seen dunes of a similar height. Miller, 

 who spent some time in them, reckoned the maximum 

 height to be 400 ft. The dunes were very curiously 

 formed, a profile of their summits showing a sharp 

 angle, instead of the long-backed windward and steeply 

 inclined leeward side. In the centre of the dunes was 

 a typical " falj," or circular pit, which went down to 

 the floor of the plateau and supported vegetation in the 

 form of grass and scrub. Here, according to native 

 report, was a sand-buried Mongol village ; and, at night, 

 could be heard the crowing of cocks and the lowing of 

 cattle ! 



As I travelled westward, the panorama of the Barkul 

 Range spread itself out and showed a long, even ridge, 

 reaching to an average height of 11,000 ft. The dis- 



