THE SYR-DARIA 85 
measured with a pole 20 ft. long, and the velocity as usual 
with a stationary and a free float. 
As might be expected from the rugged character of the 
Fergana valley, the greatest depth, and consequently the 
greatest velocity, of the river were not far from the right 
bank, where there is a steep, detached mountain ridge ; 
whereas the left or south bank is comparatively low. All 
the same it is sufficiently high above the current to make 
it difficult for the inhabitants of Khojent to get their water- 
supply from the river, when the little stream Ak-su, which 
flows through the town, fails. 
The mean depth was 12ft. Sin. (maximum 18ft. ii in.); 
the area of a vertical section 1720 square feet; the mean 
velocity of the current 2 ft. 6 in. (ma.ximum 3 ft. i in.) in 
the second; and the volume 12,900 cubic feet in the 
second. The space between the bridge and the surface 
ot the water was 20ft. sin.; but on the piers there were 
marks which showed the water to have been nearly 14 ft. 
9 m. higher the previous summer. 
It may seem remarkable that I found upwards of 7000 
cubic feet less water at Khojent than at Kazalinsk; but this 
act aclrnim of a natural explanation. In the first place 
the river Chirchick near Tashkend had at Its lowest level 
a volume of 3500 cubic feet; then, further down the 
Syr-daria receives several tributaries from the mountains 
Kara-tau and Falas-tau, one of which, the river Aris 
eing as I have said before, of very considerable size! 
mally, it must be borne in mind that the river is deprived 
of very httle water for the irrigation canals during the 
mn 1’ ^ during the cold season is in- 
considerable, that at its lowest level little or no water is 
finallv t ^ that, 
lati A observations at Khojent were made two months 
later than those at Kazalinsk. 
The Syr-daria has never been sounded durino- the 
ummer; but we may fairly conclude, that at that season 
th-it conditions are reversed; that is to say, 
that he volume of water at Chinaz (near Tashkend) is 
considerably greater than at Kazalinsk. ^ 
