948 
THROUGH ASIA 
jagged rocks which protruded through the almost precipit- 
ous gravelly slope. After carefully considering the matter 
in counsel together, we decided to make the attempt. The 
baggage could be lowered down the gravel slope ; the 
horses and donkeys would be able to take care of them- 
selves ; and if the camels could not manage it, we could 
roll them up in felt carpets and so haul them down. 
Having come to this decision, we returned to Dalai- 
kurgan over the pass of Sarik-kol (13,720 feet), arriving 
there on the evening of August 3rd. 
The caravan was given another day’s rest, and then 
the long string of animals started for the aghil of Sarik- 
kol (the Village of the Yellow Valley), and there they 
got their last bite of fresh sappy grass. 
On August 6th the caravan, divided into several 
separate groups, each in charge of a specially appointed 
leader, and the whole making an imposing appearance, 
wound slowly up the glen towards the pass of Sarik-kol. 
The pasturage continued to diminish in extent as we 
climbed higher; what there was clung- for the most part 
to the banks of the little stream. The bed of the torrent 
wound mostly through soft earth, but sometimes through 
conglomerate strata, and its bottom was littered with 
pieces of bright grey and green granite. In the highest 
part of the glen the naked granite rocks hung right 
over the stream, although in places they were still crowned 
with patches of grass. Meanwhile the glen gradually 
contracted, and grew steeper and steeper. Slowly, pain- 
fully, the animals clambered up the gravelly talus, which 
choked the trumpet - shaped gap cut through the crest 
of the range, and over which the beds of the torrents 
radiated like the ribs of a fan upon the head of the 
glen below. The camels toiled cautiously up the loose 
gravel slope. Every minute one or other of the horses 
or donkeys fell, and lost ground whilst they were being 
unloaded and loaded again ; then they would push on 
at a quicker pace in the endeavour to catch up with 
the caravan. I usually rode in the rear, so as to have 
an eye upon them all ; and it was with a feeling of 
