294 Travels in Central Asia. [No. 3= 



Abool in the Konijuk Mountains, two stages E. of Durbend) from 

 Domzul W. by Keemo and Paban, to Koor where it is joined by the 

 Kom (which rises in N. E. out of a lake of Kom in the valley of Tar 

 Ailak at S. base of the Tar Tagh) ; from Kom by Ormaz where the 

 Oor meets it from the south, rising in the Kanuth M. ; it is subse- 

 quently joined by the Sanch or Pungkund at Tanoor from the S. by 

 the Joonoojup at Oosk, from the lake of same name, li day from 

 E. of Oranthopa, a large place on south side of the Aktagh ; being 

 joined at Zoon by the Noodoorth, which rises in Lake Maz, two days 

 east of Karatess, and passes by Dizukooch. 



Erom Dook the Zurafshan runs W. to Samarkand, about 250 miles 

 from Oosk. 



To the S. of the pass, a day's journey, under the peak of Nouont 

 Kaw rise the Soorkhab or red river, (also called Kafirnoohan,) and 

 Hazar iZbon, two main branches of the Oxus. 



The Kafirnoohan runs S. "W. to Zinoo ; thence to Taux, where it 

 is joined by the Molpooth (rising in mountains of same name) ; S. to 

 Sheroog, where it meets the Zerab, which runs N. E. in the Molpooth 

 mountains ; passing Shadmar, joins the Amoo at Tahoothen. The 

 Soorkhab rises N. E. of Nornuth Kan, runs by Madpooth joined by 

 Aubkoor from Lake Khiangkul, thence S. and W. to Shunwar, where 

 it joins the Oosh from E. (from Lake Kara Kul,) thence S. to Khara- 

 tagoon, S. W. to Cessopek, where it meets the Numa, rising at 

 Taux to N. W., thence S. by Eahamoot, Boolgwan, Targaan, Dop- 

 pa, where it meets the Darri Druwas, or Bolor branch, thence S. W. 

 to Chukti and Khojahar, where it meets the Kant Tagh or Buduk- 

 shan and is first called the Amu. 



The fort of Oostam is said to have been built by a son of Timur, 

 named Eustum ; — half the inhabitants Mahommedan Moghuls, the 

 rest Akaas. 



The foundations of the fort are of Cyclopean architecture ; 

 squared blocks 24 feet long. 



28th. — Entered the pass — bottom of deep ravines, continually 

 wading. Halted at springs. 



29th. — Proceeded through deep ravines, but less wading. 



30th. — Met three Akaas going to Ausgess — large flocks of wild 

 goats. Akaas brought five down with arrows. They had several bows ; 



