PHYSICAL FEATUllKS. 63 



expkfiuiii'f^ the excavation exists, and though there may have been for- 

 merly subterranean passages through which dissolved portions of the 

 limestone could be carried off, the saltness of the water indicates evapo- 

 ration as the main cause to limit the area of the lake. 



The Khabaki lake at 2,481 feet of elevation is in an even deeper^ though 

 much smaller, depression of the Son ; like the Samundar, it has no outlet 

 either. It is 276 feet lower than the nearer summit elevations, and from 

 114 t© 196 feet lower than the least elevated part of the margin of its 

 basin ; this also appears to be more completely a rock basin than the other, 

 and both, if filled, would discharge into one of the heads of the Narsing- 

 phoar ravine. Another and smaller lake is that of J alar to the south- 

 ward, also wifhout an outlet. All are situated in limestone tracts, and 

 though probably connected with " swallow holes " or the damming up of 

 former water passages, the size and form of some of the basins render 

 local subsidence not at all an improbable cause for their existence. 



Under existing circumstances, and with nothing to carry away ac- 

 cumulating water except evaporation, these lakes must be gradually 

 silting up. 



( 03 ) 



