THE GORGE OF TENGHI-TAR 261 
both sides of the pass, on its culminating ridge there was 
not a trace of bare rock to be seen. The contours were 
on the contrary gently rounded off, the ground being 
covered with humus and luxuriant grass. At the time 
of my visit the latter was being grazed by large troops of 
horses belonging to Sart merchants of Yarkand. The top 
of the pass afforded a splendid view of the deep-cut glens 
on both sides of the ridge, and of the snow-clad mountain- 
peaks in the far distance. The two streams which carried 
off the rainfall on each side of the watershed were about 
the same size. The feeders of both have eaten their way 
deeply into the flanks of the mountain, giving origin to 
many fan-shaped corries or gullies. The altitude of the 
pass was 13,000 feet above sea-level. 
The path on the other side of the pass went straight 
downwards, due south, towards the little aul of Koi-yolli 
(the Sheep-Path), consisting of six yurts, and so on to the 
karaol (watch-house) of Chihil-gumbez, a collection of stone 
and clay houses, stables, and yurts, besides a cemetery with 
a small chapel crowned with a cupola [giuniiez). The 
inhabitants numbered only thirteen ; and, like those of 
Keng-kol and Charlung, were Kipchak Kirghiz. The 
Watch-house stood at the junction of three routes, those 
namely which come from Yarkand, from Keng-kol, and 
from Tagharma. A great many caravans and mounted 
men pass the place in the course of the year ; indeed 
I was told that the daily average of travellers was ten. 
On 1st July we went over another pass, Ter-art 
(the Leather Pass), 13,250 feet, which closely resembled 
Kashka-su, except that the ascent and descent were 
even steeper. On the crest of the ridge the clay-slates 
stood out almost vertically in sharp fantastically-shaped 
snags, flakes, and slabs. The spaces which intervened 
between the separate summits were frequently filled with 
mounds of detritus, which in their fall had exposed the 
planes of fracture of the inky-black argillaceous rocks. 
The descent on the other side was through a remarkably 
wild and striking ravine, traversed by a little rippling 
mountain-brook. Its sides were walled in by bare clay- 
