CHAPTER IX. 
OVER THE TENGHIZ-BAI PASS 
F rom Langar we travelled almost due south towards 
the pass of Tenghiz-bai. But before I go on to 
relate how we surmounted it, I must say a word or two 
about the principal passes which connect the valley of 
Fergana with the valley of the Alai. There are five 
of them, namely these, going from east to west : — 
Talldik 
. 11,605 feet in altitude 
Jipptik 
. 13.605 
Sarik-mogal 
. . 1 4, 1 1 0 
Tenghiz-bai 
. 12,630 
Kara-kasik 
. 14.305 
This gives a mean altitude of 13,250 feet for the Alai 
passes. It is noticeable that their absolute elevation in- 
creases as the chain advances westwards ; the difference 
in altitude between the passes and the valley, or the 
relative altitude of the passes, likewise increases from 
east to west. 
The easiest of these passes is the one mentioned first, 
namely, Talldik. It has recently been levelled, and is 
now practicable for carriages and artillery. But it is 
closed by the snows the greater part of the winter. The 
second and third are very difficult, chiefly because of the 
avalanches, the violent winds, and the furious hurricanes 
of snow. The depth of snow on 1 enghiz-bai varies very 
greatly from year to year. In normal seasons it does 
not amount to any great quantity, and for this reason 
it is the pass that is mostly used during the winter. It 
is the route followed by the post-couriers (jighits) who 
carry the mails between Margelan and Foit Pamir. 
