62 A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY 
Galerita magna; Corvus culminatus; Wagtails (Motacilla 
personata?) near the streams ; and some Kestrels (T. alaudarius) 
perching on the poplars. 
2nd.— Toghrak to Bora.—A short march to-day over pretty 
much the same sort of desert as we crossed yesterday. There 
were a few stunted bushes growing about, however, and I saw 
five Podoces Hendersoni, of which I managed to bag two. The 
valley of Bora is 5,524 feet above sea-level and is much more 
fertile than Ui Toghrak; there are plenty of trees here and a 
good deal of cultivation—many fine fields of Indian corn. All 
the birds noted yesterday, again observed to-day, 
3rd.— Karghalik.— We started from Bora early this morning, 
as we had a march of about twenty-five miles before us. After 
leaving the fertile valley of Bora we passed through a_ perfect 
nest of small hills, then over sandy ground, covered with 
pebbles, and having small bushes growing in it. Soon after this 
our road lay through a nearly flat “desert, devoid of vegetation 
and covered with small stones; while crossing this part we saw 
a perfect mirage of trees, running deer, &c. After riding for 
twenty miles, we were glad to reach the oasis of Besharik—a 
little belt of trees and cultivation along some small streams. 
After a dastarkhwan at Besharik, a five miles ride across 
another strip of desert brought us to Karghalik, the first town 
we have seen in this country. 
Karghalik seems to be a large and flourishing place; 
all the houses are one-storied and built of unburnt bricks, 
and the streets are clean and tidy—some of them being 
covered with lattice-work on which vines grow. We passed 
through one bazar, with long rows of stalls on each side for 
the weekly fair, and as we rode along, the inhabitants bowed 
very courteously ; the people all looked cleanly dressed, in thin - 
long robes, and many of them had large goitres. We are 
installed here in asort of Royal Rest- house, and, for the first 
time since leaving Kashmir (more than two months and a 
half ago), Iam not living in my tent. The rooms are large 
and comfortable, have each a very neat fireplace, and the win- 
dows are closed by tasteful lattice-work, over which transparent 
country paper is pasted; for window glass is unknown in 
Eastern Turkestan. In the middle of the building there isa 
large quadrangular court, neatly laid out in the centre with 
roses and asters. The nivet noticeable bird about Kar ghalik is 
a large Ring-dove (Turtur Stoliczke), which is numerous and 
apparently very tame; these Doves walk about on the house 
tops and fly off to perch on the walnut trees. 
5th.—Posgam.—Yesterday we halted at Karghalik, and we 
have had a longish march of about twenty-two miles, to-day, 
