PART 1.] 
Sloliczha: Visit to Altunn-Artush. 
15 
matti greenish shales occurred often interstratified with the limestones, beds of which were 
highly carbonaceous; the shales appeared to be unfossiliferous. 
The limestone hills, which, as already stated, are a continuation of the Kohtan range 
extend in a north-easterly direction the wholo way to south of the Belanti pass, where they 
are overlaid by a particularly well-bedded dark limestone very similar to that containing 
Megalodon north of Chuugterek. On this limestone rest greenish and purplish sandstones 
and shales which occupy the pass and the adjoining hills to the north-west of it ; mineralo- 
gically these last rocks are quite identical with what we understand under the name of 
“ Bunter sandstein,” and it is by no means improbable that the Belanti beds are also of 
triassic age, as they succeed in regular layers those of the carboniferous formation. 
A peculiar feature in this part of the hills consists in the occurrence of extensive plains 
to which the name jilga is generally applied. It means originally, I think, merely a water¬ 
course, and, on a large scale, these plains may be looked upon as water-courses of former 
water-sheets. They occur at the base of the high range, and in some respects resemble the 
duns of the southern slopes of the Himalayas. North of Tangitar one of these large 
plains occurs within the limestone rocks, being surrounded by them on all sides. It must 
be about thirty miles long from east to west, and about sixteen from north to south. Several 
isolated limestone hills and ridges occur in it, and it is drained off by the Bogos and Sujun rivers, 
the former rising in the south-west, the latter in the south-east corner. The average elevation 
is about 5,000 feet. The greater portion is covered with a low scrubby vegetation, and, near 
the rivers, with high grass. The principal catnping grounds are Bash-sujnn and Tugurmatti. 
The whole plain, which affords a good pasturage ground, is occupied by about 120 tents of 
Kirghiz during the summer. 
The next jilga is the Jigda Jilga. It differs considerably both in its physical situation 
and in its general character from the former. It stretches from west by south to east by north 
for about thirty-five miles, while the diameter of the eastern half is about twenty and that of 
the western about twelve miles. Save for a few low hillocks i t is almost a level plain throughout. 
On the north-western, northern, and north-eastern side it is bounded by the Koktan range, 
from which several water-courses lead into it, one about the middle from the north and one 
from north-east of considerable size, this containing a large quantity of crystalline pebbles ; 
the rock from which they are derived must be in situ near the axis of the ridge. A third big 
stream comes from the east, leading from the Nibulak pass. None of these streams had any 
water in them. On the south, east, and south-east the plain is bounded by the much lower 
hills composed of Artush beds, their slopes covered with gravel. 
An elevated gap or saddle situated in the south-west corner appears to connect this jilga 
with that of Tugurmatti. There is no drainage from this jilga; all the water is absorbed by 
the enormous thickness of sand and mud which fills the entire basin. This accounts for the 
comparatively rich vegetation which exists in it. There are several stretches of regular 
poplar forest (P. nigra or P. balsamifera) up to ten miles long and four to five miles in 
breadth. Besides which there are several places occupied by regular jungle of Tamarix, 
Myricaria, 'Ephedra, and the peculiar wormwood, from the seed of which the Kirghiz 
prepare satu. The Tamarix and poplars must absorb during their growth a very large 
quantity of the mineral salts with which the entire ground is saturated; the wood on being 
burnt gives out a strong smell of sulphur and chlorine. 
The poplar trees are not healthy; they resemble oak trees covered with mistletoe. The 
branches are short, stumpy, and bushy. It is evident that the trees only exist in consequence 
of the subterranean moisture. There are a great number of springs through the forest and 
on its edges, but on account of the level character of the plain no flowing streams exist 
except where there has been a very heavy snowfall and very rapid melting. 
