LITTLE KARA-KUL LAKE 
297 
“July 14th. After the first meteorological observation 
of the day had been taken, we made a little botanical trip 
in the neighbourhood, and collected algae from two or 
three lagoons along the shore. 
“About one o’clock a violent squall passed over the 
country, with sharp gusts of wind and rain, which however 
did not last long. The white-crested waves were driven 
up to a considerable height, and dashed noisily against 
the beach. The sky was heavy and black with rain-clouds, 
chasing each other to the south. During the forenoon the 
mountains had been shrouded in the usual dust-haze, but 
the rain cleared the air, so that we could now see the 
WEST SHORE OF LITTLE KARA-K.UL 
white snowfields of Mus-tagh-ata shining through the 
broken clouds with dazzling brilliance. The surface of the 
lake passed through the most wonderful changes of colour ; 
near the western and southern shores it was such a bright 
green that the boldest impressionist would not have dared 
to paint it as it actually was. Farther out it was striped 
with violet ; while near the eastern shore the water was 
dark blue. Grey and gloomy stood the mountain-giants, 
keeping- guard over the little Alpine lake which lay cradled 
between their lofty crests. There was a flat stretch of 
fine pasture along the south shore ; but on our side, with 
the exception of the little meadow where we were en- 
camped, the mountains rose sheer from the lake. 
