1839] Russian Mission from Orenhourg to Bokhara. 141 



insects frequently enter, and oblige the antelope to stop and sneeze; 

 their horns are not straight, as it is said, but spiral. Nothing can be 

 more graceful than the motions of the antelope when not' frightened; 

 they change from a high trot to light and fantastic bounds. These ani- 

 mals, when young, are easily tamed; in the neighbourhood of Orenbourg 

 they are seen, following their masters like dogs. 



From the Temir, we marched towards the heights of Moussevil, which 

 resemble those of Bassagha. We had got a sight of the mountain of 

 Moughodjar, distant 60 verstes, the blue appearance of whose summits, 

 which rise majestically and are strongly delineated on the horizon, 

 have a very picturesque effect. Notwithstanding we were anxious to 

 see them behind us, in hopes of escaping the extreme cold and storms of 

 this region. By the account of the Kirghiz, the southern face of these 

 mountains, enjoys a much milder climate. However thus far we had 

 been fortunate. The sun had shone clear, and the cold at night seldom 

 below 5 or 8 degrees of Reaumur; once only it was at 10 Q . 



This cold, however trifling it may appear, was much felt by people 

 who had been exposed all day, and had nothing but felt to cover them 

 at night ; and for fuel, miserable bushes of very small size — too happy 

 when even they were to be procured. 



The Cara-akenti, 15 verstes distant from the Moughodjar, has only 

 brackish w r ater, dirty and w 7 ith an earthy smell ; it is contained in a few 

 holes, and was the worst we had ever seen. The Kirghiz laughed at 

 the faces we made on first tasting it. To us it was hardly drinkable with 

 tea; among the Kirghiz, who frequently came to drink tea with us, I 

 have seen several who swallowed 8 pints of this liquid. 



Chapter III. 



Appearance of the Country —Kirghiz Tomb— Proofs of the diminution of 

 the Sea of Aral— Mouth of the Sir. 



On the 29th of October, we arrived at the foot of the Moughodjar 

 rocky mountains, composed of irregularly grouped peaks; their appear- 

 ance was wild, and they were covered with stones, rocks of porphyry, 

 serpentine, granite, &c. 



The valleys offer a remarkable contrast to the mountains : in the hol- 

 lows, wherever the water collects and lodges for any length of time, the 



