676 
THROUGH ASIA 
On our left I observed two small g-lacier tongues, with 
transverse terraces or shelves, and two terminal moraines, 
h rom them issued a couple of rivulets, which went to feed 
the brook that flowed down the glen. The summits on 
our right hand, which were freely exposed to the southern 
passages of the sun, possessed nothing more than the 
ruciments of glaciers. The glen grew so narrow, that 
we had to ride in the brook. The path was terribly steep. 
very minute the horses kept stopping to catch their breath. 
At last we reached the foot of the actual pass. Then zig- 
zagging backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards 
we struggled up to_ the top. The snow was fully a fooJ 
deep, completely hiding the loose debris underneath, so 
that the horses frequently stumbled. The last portion of 
the ascent was a fearfully stiff piece of work. All our 
baggage had to be carried by the Kirghiz, who took turn 
about in getting up the heavy packages. Each box 
required two men; one carried the box on his back, 
whilst the other supported it and pushed it up from 
ehmd. The horses were led up one by one. 
^ I reached the culminating point of the pass at eleven 
o c ock, and found there the masar (tomb) of Hazrett 
Ullug-art, consisting of a little heap of stones with staves 
•stuck 111 them, to which pieces of rag were tied. The 
Kirghiz look upon the saint in the same way that their 
fellows do upon the guardian saint of Kizil-art, as lord over 
the pass and the weather, as meting out good fortune or 
ill to the traveller ; his name is therefore constantly upon 
t eir bps, especially m all difficult places and all critical 
moments. 
Whilst the Kirghiz were struggling with the packing- 
cases, and examining the descent on the west side of the 
pass, which occupied them a good hour and a half, I took 
observations on the top of the pass. The altitude by 
hypsometer was 16,890 feet, and the thermometer regis- 
tered 31° Fahr. (-o°6 C). ^ 
The ascent had been a tough piece of work ; but it was 
nothing as compared with the descent. At first there 
was a scarcely noticeable incline ; but it terminated in a 
