THROUGH ASIA 
856 
On March i ith I measured the volume of the Koncheh- 
daria ; it was 2530 cubit feet in the second. In the town 
the river was spanned by a wooden bridge, and I was 
astonished to observe, that it almost rested upon the 
surface of the stream ; and yet it was the season of spring, 
when the rivers of Hast Turkestan are without exception 
at their lowest level, some of them indeed, like the 
Khotan-daria, quite dried up. No doubt the Korla-daria 
was governed by the same laws ; that is to say, it attained 
its maximum volume in the summer. But if so, the bridge 
must infallibly be sw'ept away like a chip, and all traffic 
along the great highway would be suspended. That was 
inconceivable. I was however given to understand, that 
the river has a constant level ; it is always at the same 
height, never varying more than two fingers’ breadth. 
Moreover, as in contradistinction to every other river 
in the country, its water was as clear as crystal, a glorious 
blue, it became pretty evident to me, that the river must 
he in intimate and even peculiar dependence upon the 
Bagrash - koll. Putting aside the insignificant rivulets, 
which enjoy a merely temporary existence after a shower, 
the lake of Bagrash-koll is only fed by one stream ; but 
then that is a stream of extraordinary volume, the 
principal artery of the Yulduz valley, called by the 
Mongols Khaidik-gol or Hadick-gol, and by the Moham- 
medans of Central Asia Rara-shahr-dariasi. This river 
does partake of the same character as the other streams 
of East Turkestan. During the summer its volume is 
enormous, and its water turbid, in consequence of the 
amount of .sand it holds in suspension ; in autumn and 
spring it is of a medium size ; and in winter it approaches 
its minimum, being covered, like the lake into which it 
flows, by a thick sheet of ice. 
This hydrographical problem had for me such an 
attraction that I was obliged to run up to Kara-shahr, 
which stands on the left bank of the Hadick-gol ; nor 
was I in any way deterred by the fact, that the town 
was the seat of a powerful amban (Chinese governor), 
and that I had no passport. 
