EE 
diseased or injured spot is hung upon them. As a conse- 
quence every tree fairly bristled with rags of multi-coloured 
hues. All the trees remaining are now considered sacred. 
The reason that so few remain must presumably be sought 
in the fact that fhey were not always so reverenced. There 
is no doubt but that under normal conditions these regions 
would be densely wooded, — at all events the valleys. The 
nomadic Kirghiz have chopped down tree in great quantities 
for fuel, and their grazing herds have prevented the subse- 
quent growth of seedlings. Nor did we see any signs of the 
trees and bushes, poplars, birches, Rhododendron, Berberis, 
Crataegus, Rubus fruticosus, Hippophaés, etc., mentioned by 
GEIGER as found on Alai’s northern slope; the reason too is 
presumably the same, we followed a much travelled caravan 
route. Almond bushes, (Amygdalus communis), alone, were 
common. 
The climate of Alai must be propitious to trees. To my 
certain knowledge no meteorological observations on this 
matter exist, with the exception of those published by OrLur- 
SEN, based on the few days of our sojourn in Alai. The Alai 
mountains indeed act as a screen for Pamir rendering it rain- 
poor by intercepting moisture coming from the north and 
condensing in into rain. We experienced several severe 
thunder showers in these regions, and from these and the 
accounts of similar storms given by natives it would seem 
that much rain falls in Alai. The vegetation, expecially on 
and near Olgin Lug, bears witness to the same. The woods 
near Olgin Lug prove to what an extent climatic conditions 
have favoured their growth, and seem too, to indicate that 
the Alai Range further down might, in fact, become wooded. 
Olgin Lug is a grass grown plain in the Alai Mountains, 
narrow and about 5 kilomètres in length. It lies about 2700 
metres above sea level with its greatest length running from 
south to north. High mountains, ab. 3,500 métres above sea 
level, some with their summits covered with snow, shut it 
in on every side. It is watered from south to north by the 
little stream, Kurshab, which, coming from the Taldyk Pass, 
flows into the Syr Daria. We spent several days on Olgin 
Lug and very regretfully left the beautiful spot. In brilliant 
à 
i 
a 
‘+ 
# 
i 
aN 
EEE gt ae ee 
we En 
sier =— 
20 
Sa ET 
EN. ve 
nr 
Fe 
El Der es 
