1870.] Report on Trans- Himalayan Explorations, Sfe. 47 



Issyk-kul 2,500. Alakul 600. Chukchagyr 260. 



Piasino 2,410. Dengiz-Citter 560. Barun-torei 210. 



Zaisau 1,490. Abyshkau 540. 



The following were Mr. Venuikof's rough estimates in 1860 

 of the areas of land in Asiatic Eussia, unsuitable for settled life. 



sq. miles. 

 Steppes in Western Siberia, and in the Orenburg region, 753,000 

 " Tundras" (marshes) and frozen land in Western and 



Eastern Siberia, . . 2,584,000 



Mountainous country and highlands in the Thian-Shan, 



Alatau, Sayau, Altai, Yablonoi and Stanovoi Mts. &c. 431,000 



Total, English miles 3,768,000 

 In other words, the extent of country unfitted for harbouring a 

 settled industrious population in Asiatic Eussia, constitutes two-thirds 

 of the whole country ; the rest or 1,930,000 square miles is less than 

 European Eussia, and throughout that extent the only portions 

 that are naturally capable of attracting voluntary settlers are : 1. 

 Sahalin. 2. The basin of the Amoor, and especially the Usowri 

 district. 3. The Trans -Baikal region south of that lake. 4. The 

 Minousiusk district. 5. The Western portion of the Altai, and 

 6. The sub -mountain zone of the Trans-Ili and Trans- Chui regions. 



Narrative Eeport of the Trans-Himalayan Explorations made 

 during 1868, drawn up ly Major T. Gr. Montgomerie, 

 E. E., Gr. T. Survey op India, from the original Journals 



&C, OF THE TRANS-HIMALAYAN EXPLORING PARTIES. 

 [Seed. 15th December, 1869.] 



Early in 1868, preparations were made for sending an exploring 

 expedition beyond the eastern watershed of the Upper Indus river. 



The explorations of the P u n d i t s during 1867, had supplied to- 

 lerably certain information as to various Tibetan districts lying 

 between Eudok and the Thok-Jalung gold field, and between the 

 latter and the Tadum monastery, on the great Lhasa road ; moro 

 vague information had also been received, as to an upper road 



