slopes have now become quite treeless, and the ground here is occupied by a di-y and 

 stiff steppe grass, while for the larch, for some lenght of time, there is still a place of 

 retreat on the northern decUvities. As the general direction of the river in these tracts 

 is just north-south, (see map II) and the folds in the landscape through which the river 

 bursts, are parallel with the mountain range, i. e. east-west, the traveller going by the 

 river will see a scenery of a very strange character. For when looking southwards 

 here, the cool, wooded slopes facing north may be seen in front, and the whole country 

 looks wood-clad. On the other hand, if the traveller runs his eye northwards, in the 

 direction of the slopes facing south, the country looks naked, dry and scorched, having 

 the character of a perfect steppe. The boundaries between the forest and the steppe 



Fl}<. 64. From the Yenisei valley, near Ujuk, view northwards. The 

 banks on the left side of the photograpla facing soutli and south-west, 

 and being exposed to the burning rays of the sun, are completely 

 treeless, while the declivities facing north on the opposite banks are 

 grown with larch-forest. 



vegetation follows the hill-tops rather accurately. But the dryness always increasing 

 soon expels the larch altogether, being thinned and disappearing also on the declivities 

 facing north; thus, the country here gradually passes into a completely treeless territory, 

 where the steppe scenery prevails. The air is mild and dry, and from the river may be 

 heard the grating music of the numerous grass-hoppers from the steppes. Within an 

 amazingly short distance the scenery has changed its character from moist, dark taiga 

 into dry, scorched steppe. When going downstream, the traveller passes the whole tran- 

 sition zone showing the serai development of the flora in the course of few hours. 

 The last remainder of forest disappears between Ujuk and Tapsa. 



93 



