LITTLE KARA-KUL LAKE 315 
at the mouths of the streams that entered it from the 
western valleys. On the isthmus between the lakes was 
the crumbling moraine-wall, in the middle not more than 
eight or ten feet above the level of the water. Just at 
that low spot there was a marsh ; nevertheless all visible 
connection between the two lakes was entirely wanting. 
The Kirghiz told me, that even in the spring and summer, 
when the increase of water from the western valleys is 
sometimes considerable, the rise of niveau is never very 
perceptible, and no water ever flows over from the upper 
THE LOWER BASSYK-KUL AND THE MUS-TAGH CHAIN 
to the lower basin. Hastily surveyed, it might be supposed 
that the lake possessed no outlet, and that it was therefore 
salt. The water, however, was perfectly fresh and clear. 
A glance at the map reveals a satisfactory explanation 
of this. The lower lake, it is true, does not receive 
any visible affluent, but out of it flows a tiny stream. 
The lake must therefore receive an invisible influx, and 
this naturally comes from the upper basin, whose surplus 
water percolates under the isthmus moraine to the lower 
lake, and thence finds its way to the Ike-bel-su. Bassyk- 
kul was situated 12,221 feet, and Little Kara-kul 12,201 
feet, above sea-level. 
