CHAPTER XXVII. 
amongst the glaciers of mus-tagh-ata 
T he following day we rode up the northern flank of 
Mus-tagh-ata, and crossed the huge ridge on the 
left side of the Ike-bel-su. The gradient was steepish 
before we reached the top, which rose and fell in long 
sweeping undulations, but otherwise was fairly leve the 
surface being covered with sand, gravel, and small boulders, 
with here and there a few tussocks of grass and clumps of 
Ranunculacecc. On the other side of the summit, we agmin 
reached the Kara-kul watershed, whence a brisk little 
rivulet from the glen of Kontbi flowed down to the lake 
throuo-h a broad shallow bed. Beside this stream, at a 
height of 13,530 feet, were the Kotch-korchu yeylaus 
(summer grazing-grounds), which we chose as our first 
starting-point for exploring the glaciers. 
The Kirghiz belonging to the aul had come there three 
months previously, and intended to remain three more ; 
the six winter months they spend in the Kontoi-yilga. 
There exists among the Kirghiz a traditional agreement by 
which each family or clan possesses its own kishlaks and 
veylaks • a rule which cannot be broken without a general 
convocadon being held. The inhabitants of this pkce, 
like most of the Sarik-kol Kirghiz, belonged to the Kara- 
teit tribe. Their aksakal, or chief, Tugul Bai, was ninety- 
six years old, sound in mind and body, and with pleasing 
manners. The active life they lead in the open air 
hardens the Kirghiz to such an extent that as a rule they 
live to a very great age. 11 
To-day again there were torrents of ram and the 
thunder echoed among the mountains. Shortly afterwards 
318 
