EXPLORATION IN OHINESK TURKESTAN. 753 



administrativo center for the \ iille3',s of the Sarikol region, but also as 

 the most convenient place for trade exchange on an ancient and once 

 important route connecting- great portions of Central Asia with the 

 Far East and West. Judging from local observations, evervthing 

 tends to support the view first expressed by Sir Henry Rawlinson that 

 Tashkurghan, "the stone tower," retains the position as well as the 

 name of the XiBivoc; nvpyoz^ which Ptolem}^ and, before him, ISIarinus 

 of Tyre, the geographer, knew as the emporium of the extreme 

 western frontier of Serike — i. e. , the Central Chinese dominions. From 

 Tashkurghan the road lies equally open to Kashgar and Khotan, and 

 thus to both the great trade routes which led in ancient times and 

 during the Middle Ages from Turke.stan into the interior of China. 

 At Tashkurghan, also, the two best lines of comnumication across the 

 Pamirs converge, the Taghdumbash Valle}^ which gives access to the 

 upper Oxus, being met here by the route which leads over the Naiza- 

 Tash pass toward the "Great Pamir" and thence down to Shighnan. 



In order to extend our survey over ground that was geographically 

 interesting, I chose for our further march to Kashgar the route which 

 passes through the high valleys between the Russian Pamirs and the 

 western slopes of the great transverse range of Muztagh-Ata. On 

 flul}^ 13 1 had reached the shores of the "Little" Karakul Lake, at the 

 northern foot of the "father of ice mountains," and about 11,000 feet 

 above sea level, where I found a fairly large encampment of nomadic 

 Kirghiz. The ample supply of sturd}^ yaks which we ol)tained from 

 them greatly facilitated transport arrangements. It thus became pos- 

 sible within the comparatively short time available to establish a series 

 of excellent survey stations on various high spurs descending from 

 Muztagh-Ata. They ena])led us to extend the triangulation brought 

 up from the Taghdumbash to the great glacier-crowned ranges facing 

 Muztagh-Ata from the north and northeast and overlooking the "Lit- 

 tle" Karakul Lake. (PI. i.) 



Their main peaks, though rising to over 23,000 feet, remain below 

 the elevation of Muztagh-Ata. Yet these mighty walls of ice and 

 snow, stretching their crest line of dazzling whiteness for a distance 

 of at least 24 miles, and streaked by numerous great glaciers, appeared 

 perhaps even more awe inspiring than the grand ice-girt dome of 

 Muztagh-Ata itself (pi. ii). Our stay in the midst of this mountain 

 world fell in what was i)rob!ibly the most favorable season; yet the hours 

 when any considerable portion of the panorama was clear of clouds • 

 and driving rain or snow were few indeed. Notwithstanding the rapid 

 changes of the atmos[)heric conditions and the difficulty of working a 

 delicate instrument on heights ever exposed to cutting winds at tem- 

 peratures that readily fell })elow freezing point, the Bridges- Lee photo- 

 theodolite proved very useful for ri^cording topographical details. 

 From the rounds of phototheodolite \iews which were secured by me 



