PART 1.] 
Stoliczka: Visit to Altum-Artush. 
13 
The Altum-Artush considered from a geological point of vraw, 
hy F. Stoliczka, Ph.D. 
(Veni, seel non vidi.) 
As soon as the most important political business had been concluded hy the signing of 
the commercial treaty by the Amir, His Excellency Mr. Forsyth expressed a wish to visit 
the renowned tomb of Sultan Satuk at Altum-Artush. The king accorded his permission, 
and instructed the Hakim Mahomed Khoja to assist us in travelling over the province under 
his care to whatever extent Mr. Forsyth might desire. 
Under the personal guidance of the Envoy, we—Dr. Bellew, Captain Chapman, Captain 
Trotter, and myself—left Yangishar on the 14th of February, reaching Altum-Artush at a 
late hour the same day. As an introduction to the difficulties in travelling, our baggage did 
not arrive till next day, and we had to accommodate ourselves for the night on the carpets 
of the floor in a spacious but tolerably warm room. A halt of two days was desirable to 
enable us to make all necessary arrangements for our further movements. However, before 
I proceed, I shall endeavour to give the reader an idea of the geographical position and limits 
of the country of which I shall speak in the subsequent lines. 
The data are derived from a general survey by Captain Trotter and from information 
given by the Hakim Mahomed Khoja. 
Altum-Artush, which is the chief place of the province, lies approximately in east 
long. 76° 8’ and north lat. 39° 41therefore about twenty-three miles north by east of Yangishar. 
It is situated in the western part of the Yilak on the Bogos, here called Artush river, and north 
of a low ridge which separates the Artush valley from the plains. The southern boundary 
runs along this ridge for about ten miles west of Altum-Artush, and from there almost 
due north to the crest of the Koktan range ; then along this range eastwards of the Belanti 
pass (east long. 77° 47' and north lat. 40° 41'), and from thence in a south-eastern direction 
to the village of Kushtiguak, some fifteen miles north of Fyzabad in long. 76° 42' 30" and 
lat. 39° 28’ 30". From here the southern boundary rnns close to the right bank of the 
Kashgar river, until almost opposite to where the Artush river runs into the plains. 
During the first four days we all marched in company up the valley of the Bogos river 
to the fort Tangitar, about twenty-three miles to the north by west; then to a Kirghiz camp, 
Bashsugum, in a north-easterly direction ; Tugurmatti almost eastern ; and Ajaksugun in a 
south-eastern direction; the directions being from the last camps respectively. 
At Azjak-sugun Captain Trotter and I separated from the rest of the party, marching 
northwards along the road to Ashtifan, to Jaitava, and from thence across the Jigda Jilga 
in a north-east by east ? direction to the camp at Nibulak, crossing the Nibulak pass, pass¬ 
ing a second jilga, and turning then for almost nine miles more northwards to the Belanti 
pass, beyond which lies the valley of the Kakshal or Aksai river. On our return we passed 
Ayak-sugun, Karaul, about a mile from our former camp of the same name, and visited 
Kultislak and Fyzabad, returning to Yangishar on the 3rd of March. 
It was not a very favorable time for travelling in these regions, not so much on account 
of the cold, as in consequence of the heavy falls of snow which appear to occur over the 
whole of Thianshan during the second half of February and first half of March. During 
the last few days of February we were almost constantly wading in fresh fallen snow, 
though on the saline plains it melted very rapidly. 
The snow naturally interfered seriously with our observations. However, obtaining even 
but a little addition to our knowledge of these hills, was a better way of occupying our time 
than remaining in our somewhat gloomy quarters. 
