THE SYR-DARIA 
91 
of the Syr-daria, on the other hand, there are no swamps 
or ancient river-beds ; though in the lower course of the 
river there are marshes and lagoons, for the greater part 
situated on the right bank. Here again we find plain 
indications, that the river is trending to the right or 
i^rth-east. For a distance of close upon 400 miles, from 
tvazahnsk to Tash-suat, the post-road runs close beside 
the right bank. Several station - houses, which were 
originally built at a certain distance from the river, have 
now been reached by it ; and some of them have had to 
e abandoned and new ones built at a greater distance 
irom the bank. 
On further comparison between the Naryn and the 
ara-daria, I found that the Naryn carries a large 
quantity of drift-ice ; while in the Kara-daria, on the 
ontrary, there is not a trace of it. The water of the 
aryn was almost clear and transparent; that of the 
ara-dana turbid and impure. The water of the Naryn 
lacl a mean temperature of 32=2 Fahr. (o°i C.); in the 
^ster river the thermometer showed 2 >T 9 Fahr. (V3 C.). 
he quantity of sedimentary matter is naturally partly 
dependent on the varying nature of the country throuo-h 
which the rivers flow, partly on the volume of the streams 
and their rate of fall, possibly also on the temperatures of 
their waters. 
Finally, I must add a few words as to the influence 
which the volume of water in the Naryn and the Kara- 
dana had oa the Syr-daria at Min-bulak, Gurum-serai, and 
mLYTi ““her series of soundings at 
Mm-bulak; but unfortunately the ferry was so arranged 
Aat ,t was impossible to keep the boat still on the river 
the d^f f™-' the left shore 
not lesftharir, " T' 
right ban! th d I’"' from the 
ght bank the depth was 4 ft. gin,, and the velocity only 
■ 1 . 10 m. In about the middle of the river the depth was 
1 he differences of temperature and colour of the water 
m different places furnished materials for some interesting 
