LITTLE KARA-KUL LAKE 
295 
presented me with a can of ktimiss (fermented mare’s- 
milk) ; it was sour and cold, and tasted excellent. The 
only drawback to our camping-ground was the myriads 
of mosquitoes swarming over the flat shore of the lake, 
which was intersected in all directions by pools and arms 
from the glacier stream. 
July 13th was our first working day by the lake. As 
we found that the south shore, permeated as it was by 
stagnant water, would probably be unhealthy for a 
lengthened stay, we decided to move to a suitable spot 
on the east side ; and accordingly the next day the' men 
packed up our goods and chattels, and we moved over. 
I myself took a couple of Kirghiz with me and mapped 
the outline of the lake with the plane-table and diopter, 
continuing the work till I reached the new camping- 
station. On the way I paid a short visit to old Khoat 
Beg, who was encamped there with six yurts. 
At the south - east corner of the lake, in a narrow 
opening in the rock, we saw the Sarik-tumshuk-masar 
(the Saint’s Grave on the Yellow Cape), decorated with 
yaks’ tails and rags. A clear spring gushed out at the 
base of the steep schistose rocks with a temperature of 
47° I Fahr. (8°4 C.). 
Our steps now bore directly along the shore, where the 
ruptured ends of the stratified schistose rocks fell sheer 
into the lake, often necessitating our riding in the water. 
On our left stretched the lake, its surface varying from 
a pretty light green to deep navy blue, blotched here 
and there with streaks of dirty yellow mud brought down 
by the streams. On the west shore rose the huge rocky 
wall of the Sarik-kol chain, with its out-jutting promon- 
tories just visible through the hazy atmosphere. 
When I arrived at the new camp, everything was in 
order ; the yurt had been put up close to the shore, on a 
little patch of luxuriant grass between it and the mountain, 
and there our horses were contentedly grazing. 
Yolldash (the Travelling Companion), a wretched Kir- 
ghiz dog, which, like the late Yollchi, had joined our 
expedition as a volunteer, and was greatly valued by my 
