RANSACTIONS OF SECTION &. 813 
Dune Tracts.—The condition for formation of a dune tract in 4 sandy district 
is that the rate of travel of the sand should be localiy diminished without a corre- 
sponding diminution in the supply of sand. The persistence of such condition may 
cause a stationary dune massif without fixation, ; 
In the sandy district visited by the author the formation of a dune tract or 
dune massif appears to be chiefly determined by the presence of ground moisture, 
which gives coherence to the sand. Thus the boundaries of these massifs frequently 
appear inexplicable when an explanation is sought in the wind. Within the 
bounds of the massif, however, the modelling of the surface is explicable by the 
action of the winds. 
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19. 
1. Phe Anthropogeography of certain Places in British New Guinea 
and Sarawak, By A. C. Havpon, D.Sc., P.R.S. 
2. A Visit to the Karch-Chal Mountains, Transcaucasia. 
Ly W. Rickmer Rickmers. 
In the summer of 1895, accompanied by Dr. A. Hacker, of Vienna, I visited the 
Karch-Chal Mountains, in Transcaucasia, This group is S.E. of Batum, and, in a 
straight line, about 30 miles distant from that port. The route taken was along 
the Chorokh River, through a well-wooded valley rich in copper ore. A carriage 
road can be used as far as the village Borchkha, where one leaves the river and 
ascends by one of the side valleys. These are fairly well cultivated, containing 
numerous villages inhabited by Ajars or Lazes, a people speaking a dialect pro- 
duced by the mixture of Georgian and Osmanli. They were originally Georgian 
Christians, and ruined churches can be found in several places, even at a height of 
4,000 ft. Now the country is thoroughly Mohammedanised. Maize and tobacco 
are the chief produce. 
After leaving the region of the picturesquely situated villages, with their brown 
wooden houses, the ascent leads through a forest of magnificent beeches and other 
leaf-trees. In the midst of this luxuriant vegetation, at a height of 5,000 ft., a hot 
spring has given birth to a primitive watering-place called Otingo, consisting of 
three sheds, and chiefly frequented by Armenians from Artwin. Above this comes 
a, zone of dense fir-woods, with an impenetrable undergrowth of laurel and rhodo- 
dendron, the abode of numerous bears. At a level of ca. 7,000 ft. one steps forth 
on to the undulating Alpine pastures where the cattle are sent to graze during two 
summer months. The Yailas, corresponding to the Sennhiitten of the Aips, are 
almost exactly like their European counterparts. In one of the huts we lived for 
many weeks, save when, for a change, we passed the nights in a cave 3,000 ft. 
higher or on the summit of a mountain. 
The principal peaks of the group are on an average 12,000 ft. high, and sur- 
round a plateau about 11,000 ft. high. Light peaks were climbed, some proving 
fairly difficult. Photographs were taken, and a collection of Alpine plants made, 
which has thrown light on the mountain flora of these regions. Large mammals, 
such as ibex or chamois, were not observed, but eagles and vultures were plentiful. 
Three days and nights were spent on the top of the highest summits in order to 
obtain a series of barometrical and thermometrical observations. Mr. Hacker 
sketched a panorama of the range from this point, 
A small and very steep glacier was also discovered; it feeds a beautiful little 
green lake. Towards the end of August snowy weather alternated with days of 
sunshine, and once we were obliged to wait a whole fortnight in one of the huts 
for the fog to lift. 
