346 
THROUGH ASIA 
decked mountains of Trans-alai and the Murghab. Only 
a few summits in the nearer parts of the Sarik - kol 
Mountains seemed to exceed 16,500 feet in height. But 
in the Mus-tagh chain, which is a continuation of Mus- 
tagh-ata, there were on the north a couple of peaks which 
did not fall far short of the “Ice Mountains’ Father” 
himself in altitude. The whole of the Sarik-kol valley 
was spread out like a map under our feet, clearly visible 
from Ullug-rabat to Bulun-kul. Every lake, except the 
Upper Bassyk-kul, which was hidden by intervening rocks, 
shone blue-green in the prevalent grey of the moraine 
landscape, but from our position looked like insignificant 
pools. The Yam-bulak glacier pointed its icy finger down 
the vallej5 and far beyond its outer extremity we were able 
to distinguish the concentric semicircles of its former 
terminal moraine, long since dead. We could not have 
obtained a better view anywhere of the glacier streams, 
and their beds between the outstretched arms of the 
mountain, than from the spot where we stood. 
The large rivers of the Yam-bulak and Chum - kar- 
kashka glaciers ran parallel to the very end of the 
valley, which was as grey as steel from their alluvium. 
There still remained four other rocky buttresses above 
us, and behind them the northern summit of the mountain, 
now appearing quite near. The parts between it and 
the farthest visible point of the mountain had a flatter 
perspective. 
We now held a council of war. The day was drawing 
to an end, and it was beginning to be cold in the wind 
(33°3 Fahr. or o°7 C. at 4 p.m.). Moreover the Kirghiz 
were so done up that they could go no farther; the yaks 
stood panting, with their tongues hanging out. We had 
reached the foot of a dome - shaped elevation, which 
gradually merged into the flat crown of the summit. On 
its slopes the snow lay in more massive and more compact 
layers ; and there were cracks and displacements in it 
which pointed to a tendency to avalanches. The Kirghiz 
warned me against attempting this precipitous snow- 
slope. They declared it was ready to fall ; and that the 
