354 
WEST FLANK OF CHAIN. 
To the east of Zlataustsk the carboniferous limestone disappears under certain 
flagstones and grits occasionally calcareous, the extension, as we believe, of those 
of Artinsk (p. 127 et seq.), which give quite a different aspect to the country. 
Woodlands and wilds there take the place of arable and pastoral undulations, and 
a heavy clay for the most part occupies the surface. On emerging from these 
woodlands the advanced posts of the Ural which begin to show themselves, 
nowhere present a bolder feature than the Surrey hills as viewed from the valley 
of the Thames. 
At this point, or near the post-house of Altschitska, commences the coloured 
section (PI. II. fig. 1.). Hence to Yallim, soft yellowish sandstones predominate, 
and upon the banks of a small stream they contain casts of Calamites and alter- 
nate with layers of argillaceous schist, which occur both in thin beds and also in 
oblate spheroidal forms. These strata have the aspect of carboniferous deposits, 
and they unquestionably overlie the true Carboniferous limestone. Allusion has 
already been made to strata probably approaching to those in age on the banks of 
the Tchussovaya, and we shall afterwards have to speak of them on the western 
flank of the Arctic Ural. In approaching Bissersk they incline 15° to 20° to the 
east, and containing plants (including ferns), become somewhat calcareous, their 
lamination being marked by plates of yellow mica. 
In this parallel the hilly wooded character more distinctly sets on, and the tract 
diversified by rivulets and pools of water, having somewhat the aspect of the Lower 
Jura 1 , may be viewed as the first appanage of the Ural chain 2 . At Bissersk 
the carbonaceous sands and grits are partially obscured by loose sand and clay, 
' We could not learn that any Russian nobleman or country gentleman ever resides on his property 
in this very pretty tract. In fact, the whole of the Casino or club of the nobles at Perm was placed at 
our disposal by the kind and hospitable governor M. Ogaref, and we learnt that in all his vast govern- 
ment (as large as the kingdom of France) three or four noble proprietors only were ever resident. 
2 Humboldt has the following excellent observation when speaking of this very point on the western 
flank of the Ural : — “ Comme presque partout les chaines de montagnes s’elevent sur un terrain deja 
bombe, ct que des contreforts plus ou moins etcudus marquent 1’etendue laterale des soulevemens, il 
n’est pas facile de circonscrire l’area des montagnes et des plaines. Cette difficult^ augmente lorsque, 
comme dans l’Oural, la chaine n’est elevee a de grandes distances que de 3 a 4 cents toises de hauteur, 
et que loin de former toujours une digue rocheuse, elle se presente plutot comme un aggroupement de 
montagnes et de hauts plateaux disposes dans la direction d’un meridien. Comment, par exemple, fixer 
les points oil commence et ou finit l’Oural dans la route qui conduit de Perm et de Kongour, celebre par 
ses cavernes de gypse, par Catlierinenbourg a Tobolsk ; on est incertain si ce sont les changemens si 
lents de niveau qui doivent decider la question, ou s'il ne faut pas ajouter la consideration de la nature de 
la rvche aux considerations relatives au relief ." — Asie Centrale, vol. i. p. 451. 
