OVER THE TRANS-ALAI 
153 
got there, we were assailed by an icy northern wind, which 
penetrated sheepskins and felt boots alike. 
On the very highest point of the pass stood the burial- 
cairn of the Mohammedan saint Kizil-art, a mound of 
stones, decorated with the religious offerings of pious 
Kirghiz, namely highs {i.e. sticks with rags tied round 
them), pieces of cloth, and antelopes’ horns. Arrived at 
this shrine, my men again fell upon their knees, and 
thanked Allah for having preserved them on the way up 
to the top of the dreaded pass. They told me, that Ivizil- 
art was an aulia or saint, who in the time of the Prophet 
travelled from the Alai valley to the countries of the 
south to preach abroad the true faith. In the course of his 
journey he discovered this pass, to which he gave his own 
name. He is said to be now buried on the highest point 
of it. Others of the Kirghiz gave a much more probable 
explanation of the name, namely that the cairn has simply 
been built in commemoration of the saint. P'orther, they 
fully believe that, if the holy Kizil-art had not discovered 
the pass, it would be impossible, even at the present day, 
to travel across the Pamirs from this direction. Tradition 
has also preserved the memory of his six brothers, all 
of them holy men like himself. Their names were Mus- 
art, Kok-art, Khatin-art, Kolun-art, Ghez-art, and Ak-art. 
The suffix “ art ” is one out of several Kirghiz words 
meaning “ pass,” and each of these six names is applied to 
a pass in the mountains of the Pamirs. 
