142 Russian Mission from Orenbourg to Bokhara. [July 



vegetation is luxuriant, and the soil black and fertile; the Kirghiz take 

 advantage of it both to cultivate grain, and also as pasturage for their 

 cattle, pitching their tents among the hills, so as to obtain shelter from 

 the inclemency of the latter part of the season. 



The highest peak of the Moughodjar (almost 150 toises) above the 

 level of the plain, is mount Airouk — a name signifying isolated, and it 

 is in fact a very just denomination, as it is very much higher than any 

 of the other hills. It is also called Airourouk or forked, on account of 

 the two peaks which terminate the mountain. Generally speaking, the 

 Kirghiz give very characteristic names to the spots through which they 

 pass — as for example, the mountains lying to the south of the Airouk - 

 tagh, are known by the name of lamantagh, or bad mountains, those to the 

 north, are called Iakhchi-tagli, or good mountains, the former, because 

 they are almost destitute of herbage, whilst on the latter the Kirghiz 

 find good pasture, and abundance of water. 



The Moughodjar are evidently a continuation of the Gouberlinsk 

 mountains, the union of the two chains may be seen between the for- 

 tress so named, and the fort of Orsk: it is near the same spot that the 

 Oural has formed a bed for itself through the chain of rocks, and that 

 it flows in a narrow channel between rocky and steep banks of the same 

 nature and appearance as the mountains. The hills assume the name 

 of Tachkitchou and of Caraoultepeh, separated at first by the Kir-gheldi. 

 they re-unite at the distance of about 30 verstes from the Oural, from 

 whence they extend to the south over an elevated plain, afterwards form- 

 ing the Ourkatch, or mountains of the Our, thus called from the Our or 

 Or, which flows at their feet. Near the sources of this river, the moun* 

 tains Ourkatch join the Moughodjar mountains, which extend to the 

 south-east. Two ranges of hills spring from the Ourkatch, one sepa- 

 rates the basin of the Ilek from that of the Oural ; the other separates the 

 basin of the llek from those of the Temir, and the Emba. The lakhchi- 

 tagh lie on the right bank of the Our, and leave it to join the Karnadur 

 hills, a name signifying the junction of the mountains. 



The Moughodjar are the highest hills in the plain, inhabited by the 

 Kirghiz of the lesser horde. They are the ramifications of the Oural, none 

 of its branches, however, extend to the lofty range of the Altai. The 

 passage of the Moughodjar is about 6 verstes (4 miles) beyond these 

 hills ; the snow seldom falls in any great quantity; when the climate is 

 hotter, and the soil more barren ; stunted plants of wormwood of a dark 

 colour are thinly scattered over a country, which appears in dismal 

 mourning. In a space of 400 verstes from the river Kaoundjour to the Sir, 

 we did not find a single stream. 



