THE SPURS OF THE ARKA-TAGH 975 
firmament to peep through. Upon climbing a small 
mountain-ridge, we perceived a lake in the west-south-west 
ensconced between two low ridges. The lake itself was 
too much out of our direct line of march to be worth a 
visit ; but we crossed over the gully which formed its 
eastward continuation. At this place the red species of 
conglomerate before mentioned, with granite, and after 
the granite green slates, occurred in strata disposed almost 
vertically. They did not however project more than a 
foot or so above the broken surface of the detritus with 
which the ground was strewn, but were visible from a 
great distance, framing in the landscape with red and 
black lines. 
Then we rode up another watercourse, still moist from 
the last fall of snow, and came out upon yet another ridge, 
higher and broader than the last. From its slightly 
rounded summit a view' as welcome as it was unexpected 
burst upon our sight. Before us lay a gentle hollow, 
green with yeylaks (pasture), thin of course, but all the 
same extremely welcome to our beasts, which had tasted 
no green fodder for four days. The horses in particular 
looked pined, and neighed continuously for grass. Emin 
Mirza, a capable Taghlik, who since the departure of 
Fong Shi acted as my secretary, pointed out with well- 
grounded surprise, that the caravan was going on past 
the hollow. There was, it is true, a little pool close 
by, but its water was salt, and Islam was principally 
concerned to find fresh water, the chief necessary of life. 
The grass was so thin and short and fine, that it would 
only have mocked the animals’ patience to let them graze 
there. That the place was known to the boghe (antelopes) 
was evident from their numerous spoor. The voles too 
lived upon the roots of the grass. We saw their runs, 
but none of the animals themselves. On our right there 
was another low ridge, and in one of its gullies a thicker 
growth of grass ; it had however been cropped close by the 
denizens of the desert. But moss thrived in the moisture 
which oozed out of a spring, beside which the tent was 
already pitched. That day we travelled fifteen miles. 
