312 
THROUGH ASIA 
“ On one occasion when we were returning from a trip 
of this kind, Yehim Bai, who was carrying the topo- 
graphical instruments, lost a brass diopter, and I gave 
him to understand that, if the missing instrument were not 
found, he would be in disgrace. He forthwith started off 
to ofo over the orround again, and see if he could find it. 
An acquaintance, whom he eventually met, told him, that 
an extraordinary metal thing had been found and taken 
to the Chinese commandant, Jan Darin, at Bulun-kul, who 
thought he could put a spoke in my wheel by retaining it. 
I sent off a messenger at once, to inform Jan Darin that 
he would have to settle the matter with the Dao Tai, if he 
did not return me the instrument. I received the diopter 
back immediately. 
“I spent a whole day in investigating the country 
between the Lower Bassyk-kul and the Ike-bel-su. A 
small stream issued from the lake, and flowing through 
fairly luxuriant grass-land, littered with fragments of the 
moraine, joined the main stream a little way north of the 
river Kara-kul. The Ike-bel-su had decreased consider- 
ably in volume the last few days, owing to the fall in the 
temperature ; but here too it raced between perpendicular 
or oblique conglomerate walls, in the sides of which round 
gneiss blocks were partially embedded, looking as if every 
moment they would topple down into the river. 
“On July 24th I examined the upper basin of the 
Bassyk-kul. About the middle of the south shore a 
promontory, formed by a spur of the mountain, fell almost 
sheer into the lake, so that none but foot-passengers could 
get round it. We, being mounted, were obliged to make 
our way through a pass over the ridge. 
“This little pass, called Bassyk-kulden-kiasi-davan (the 
Mountain- Path Pass of Bassyk-kul), was situated not 
more than two hundred feet above the lake, but had steep 
approaches, and its summit commanded a fine view. At 
our feet basked the little lake, washing the promontory on 
three sides ; we also saw its small islands and shoals, its 
submarine moraine elevations and erratic blocks, still half 
immersed in the water, and the small deltas which form 
