LITTLE KARA-KUL LAKE 
317 
went to Keng-shevar, whence I intended beginning the 
exploration of Mus-tagh-ata. On our way thither, we 
passed an unusually fine circular moraine, about a hundred 
yards in diameter, situated on the south shore of the 
Bassyk-kul. In the middle there was a tiny round pool, 
surrounded by a ring of white salt deposit, which in its 
turn was girdled by a belt of vegetation ; outside of 
all was the moraine-wall, with its one opening towards 
the lake. Although the pool was on a level with the lake, 
and quite near its shore, so that it was fair to assume a 
subterranean connection between them, the water in the 
cirque, which was called Shor-kul (Salt Lake), was abso- 
lutely salt. The Kirghiz told me that sheep which drink 
of it get cramp and die. 
“At Tamga-tash we met Togdasin Beg, bringing me a 
sheep and a can of yaks milk as presents. He accom- 
panied us to Keng-shevar, and stopped the night there. 
1 he sheep was killed in the evening, and the inhabitants 
of the aul were invited to the feast ; but we were dis- 
turbed during the proceedings by a violent whirlwind, 
which threatened to carry away the yurt. All the guests 
scrambled to their feet and seized hold of the tent-poles, 
while two or three other men anchored the tent with ropes 
and supports.” 
