M Vas 
mountain-sides sloping towards the east. Further up, another 
tiny, aromatic and arachnoid hairy labiate (Nepeta spathulifera), 
appears, and still higher Dracocephalum heterophyllum, grow- 
ing in patches on account of its long horizontal rhizomes, 
Linaria hepatica and Solenanthus stylosus. The ground of the 
mountain-slope is of dry gravel with jingling bits of slate 
and here and there boulders of slate fast embedded. Occa- 
sional patches of white salt are visible. At a depth of 10—20 
cm the ground is slightly damp. 
The vegetation of Jaman Tal is unusual. Here there is 
a thicket, 4—5 mètres high, of Salix oxycarpa, and Myricaria 
davurica and besides Clematis orientalis and great tufts of 
Scrophularia incisa, Calamagrostis compacta, Elymus sibiricus 
and Potentilla dealbata. This vegetation, very little characte- 
ristic of Pamir, is presumably due to the sheltered warmth 
of the deep valley. 
Shatyr Tash is situated in the eastern end of Alitshur 
Pamir at an altitude of about 4,100 métres. It is a nearly 
horizontal plain extending on either side of the Alilshur 
River, which flows westward into the Jashil Kul. Many 
Kirghiz had pitched their tents on Shatyr Tash and quantities 
of sheep and yak oxen were grazing on the plain. Moun- 
tains tower high into the air on the north and south, and 
small scattered knolls of rock penetrate here and there 
the soil of the plain. In some places the ground is dry and 
covered with fine gravel. Here the vegetation is poor and 
sparse, composed of Poa attenuata var. pygmaea, Calamagrostis 
compacta, Carex stenophylla, Sisymbrium: Korolkowiti, Oxytropis 
Pencinsü, Polygonum paronychioides and Chrysanthemum pa- 
miricum. In a locality with the above flora the ground water 
was found at a depth of 71 cm. In other places the soil of 
the plain appeared brown and moist, generally covered with 
a very thin layer of salt. The dry and wet spots alternate 
at the same altitude, indicating plainly that they depend on 
certain subterranean conditions. The surface of the soil in 
wet places is often rough or lumpy, with quantities of low 
