THROUGH ASIA 
33 ° 
streamlets, the head-waters of the Yam-bulak-bashi. In 
a couple of small moraine-pools at the edge of the glacier 
the water was a grey-green colour, and had a temperature 
of 3i°2 Fahr. (o°46 C.). 
Our expedition proved that the glacier differed very 
much in appearance from what it was in April. The 
crevasses were not so deep, being partly filled with material 
which had fallen in ; nor were their edges so sharp ; while 
the surface was in general .softer and more rounded. 
Shortly put, everything tended to prove, that the glacier 
was in a condition of great activity, and that all the 
agents of ablation were at work to level down its outer 
form and fill up its depressions. 
We afterwards followed the right lateral moraine to the 
tongue of the glacier ; but had not reached it when a 
violent gale sprang up from the south, accompanied with 
hail, which stung us in the face, and compelled us to seek 
shelter under some overhanging rocks. d he hail was 
followed, as usual, by torrents of rain, and it was only 
after waiting an hour that we were able to proceed. 
Immediately in front of the tongue of the glacier we 
made a halt : it was a confused jumble of pyramids, ridges, 
and huge fragments of ice, all greatly weathered. The 
face resembled four icebergs, two large ones in the middle 
and two smaller ones on either side, separated from each 
other by crevasses, and set up, as if on purpose, facing 
the south-west sun, which beats on them and destroys 
them. From the right-hand side a little stream flowed 
through a glacier portal only 24 inches high, which, at 
a distance, looked like a narrow fissure between the sill 
or ground-moraine and the ice. 1 he water in the stream 
was grey and muddy from the abraded materials it held 
in suspension. It foamed and bubbled along the ice and 
among the moraines. Here too a number of small brooks 
and streamlets assembled on their way down to the glacier 
river, and fell in cascades of perfectly clear water, not 
broader than a man’s arm. They spurted out from the 
top of the glacier-wall in veritable fountains and water- 
falls, the fine spray which streamed off them being 
