1878. | Geography and Travels, 567 
in making this exploration at a period when this region was 
held by Yakub-beg, at that time the ruler of Kashgar, who was 
assassinated about the middle of last year, and his kingdom over- 
_ thrown by the Chinese. Neither a year earlier, nor at the present 
time, would such an expedition have been practicable. Leaving 
Kuldja, August 12th, 1876, he traveled in a general south-east 
direction, crossing the eastern Tian-Shan by a pass 9800 feet in 
height, called the Narat, and found that the rain-fall was plentiful 
on the north side where are abundant forests and game, but wholly 
deficient on the south side. He then entered upon an extensive 
plateau called Yuldus, about 8000 feet above the sea. Both in birds 
and mammalia the Yuldus is very rich. By a pass 9300 ft. in height 
he descended from this plateau, and before entering Korla (2600 
feet, population 6000), on November 4th, 1876, he left behind the 
last spurs of the Tian-shan. Proceeding to the Valley of the 
Tarrim he passed a stony strip of country, probably the shore of a 
former sea, while beyond is a desert consisting of clay and sand. 
The clay is impregnated with salt, and on both sides of the Tarrim 
salt marshes are found. On December 18th he arrived at 
Charchalyk, between the Lob-Nor lake and the lofty mountains 
of Altyn- -tag. He explored the northern slope of this range, 
which rises precipitously, as an immense wall, to the height of 
12,000 to 14,000 feet. South of the Altyn-tag, it was ieamen; isa 
estand most desolate region Prejevalsky had ever set eyes on. He 
then explored the northern face of the Altyn-Tag range which 
forms the northern escarpment of the Tibetan plateau.. The 
mountains are about 14,000 feet high. These mountains, says the 
account in the Geographical Magazine, are characterized by great 
sterility, and it is only in the valleys and ravines that vegetation 
grows; yet, nevertheless, large swarms of locusts are here to 
seen. In the summer of 1876 they committed great ravages, and 
rose to a height of gooo feet in the mountains. The climate of 
the Altyn-Tag is characterized on its northern side at least 
great cold and little snow. In summer, according to the natives, 
it rains frequently and is very windy. In this mountain region 
and the adjacent Kum-Tag desert secs are a few wild camels, 
which twenty years ago were said to have been very cammon. 
They seek the upper valleys of the Altyn-Tag in the summer and 
the most inaccessible deserts in the winter. Their sight, sense of 
