1840.] Russian Mission from Orenbourg to Bokhara, 59 



valley enlarges, and the stream becomes more rapid. Its source is hid 

 in the mountn.ins of Belour and Ala-tagh. None of the travellers who 

 annually go from Khokhan to Kachghar, could give me the least inform- 

 ation on the subject. Many streams fall into the Sir between Khokhan 

 and Kodjend ; near the last city it is larger than at its mouth, in the 

 Aral ; the sandy deserts through which it flows absorbing a great quantity 

 of its waters. About 350 verstes from its mouth the Kouwan separates 

 from it ; this last then divides into five channels, which again unite, and 

 form a number of lakes called Aralu-koullar, near which the country is 

 fertile and well cultivated. Before the Sir enters the lake of Aral, it 

 again unites with what remiins of the Kouwan. Higher up it also 

 receives a small stream from it, when the river is full at the melting of 

 the snow. This branch certainly offers facilities for irrigation. The 

 people who reside on the river assured me both the Amou and Sir are 

 fordable at several points ; but I have never seen any person who had 

 actually crossed in this way. 



They have recourse to different methods for crossing these rivers. I 

 passed the Sir in a row boat ; M. Nasarov crossed it near Khokhan in a 

 boat drawn by horses, swiming across. Another and rather a singular me- 

 thod was told me ; the traveller's clothes are put into two leather bags,'*' 

 which are afterwards filled with air, and on which he takes his seat| they 

 are then tied to the tail of a horse, which swims across the river ; the 

 traveller being oouyed up by the inflated bags. From what I was told 

 in Bokhara, I am inclined to think the Amou-deria is passed in the 

 same manner. I was assured that people who cannot swim lie down on 

 one of these inflated bags, and paddle themselves along, with one hand 

 without any danger ; as for the Kirghis their skill in swimming is of 

 little use to them, as they always hold fast their hor.se's mane with the 

 right hand, swim with the left, and thus cross from one bank to the other 

 of the Sir. 



The Irghiz and the Tourghai, the junction of which I witnessed in 

 theTonghouz-khan, are inconsiderable rivers ; in many places they are 

 almost dry. They form the lakes of Aksakal, extending to the north- 

 east, and the most westerly of which is separated from the sea of Aral 

 by chains of clayey hills, in the midst of sandy deserts, making it very- 

 unlikely any subterranean communication should exist between them r 

 the distance is 130 verstes. The names of Taraz and of the Talaz are at 

 present unknown. 



The sea of Aral, called by the eastern nations Ourghentch, is sur- 



♦ This is common on the Tigris and Euphrates aho.-^Translafor, 



