IN THE TASHKURGAN VALLEY. 113 



Going along the valley of the Tashkurgan 

 river, we got into a very narrow gorge, with 

 precipitous cliffs and slopes on each side. A 

 range of mountains, called the Karatagh, spring 

 from the Mustagh range on the south-west, and, 

 running in a north-western direction, bind the 

 Taghdumbash Pamir and this valley. 



We had crossed this range, when we entered 

 the district, at a comparatively low part, about 

 14,000 feet. After this they gradually rise, and 

 culminate in the Tagherma Peak, which is 

 reckoned at 25,000 feet! 



About ten miles below Tashkurgan the vale, 

 if I may so call it, ceases, and the river enters 

 into this narrow gorge, where it seems to have 

 cut its way right through the range. We had 

 hoped to have followed the river, and so avoided 

 crossing more passes ; but this, we heard, was 

 impossible, the gorge in many places being sheer 

 down to the rocky bed of the river. 



Three short marches brought us to what we 

 thought to be the top of the pass, but when there 

 we found a sort of convex table-land or pamir. 

 When we got out of the ravine on to this pamir 

 a very fine view lay before us. The plateau, 

 about 144 miles in area, was freshly covered with 



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