GEOLOGY. 
35 
PABT VI. 
Prom Yangihissar, Kashghar, to Panjah, in Wakhan, by the Little Pamir, and 
RETURN JOURNEY BY THE GREAT PAMIR. 
[This section, like that describing the country between Mari and Leh, is simply compiled 
from Dr. Stoliczka’s diary. It commences from Yangihissar, two marches, or about 40 miles, 
from Kashghar, on the road to Yarkand. Thence the route followed led in a south-west direction 
through the district of Sarikol (Sirikol) to the frontier of Wakhan, at or near Aktash, a 
distance of about 150 miles in a direct line, and thence in a west-south-west direction for 120 
miles more across the Pamir steppe to Panjah or Kila Panjah in Wakhan. The road from the 
Yarkand frontier to Panjah traverses a district known as the Little Pamir, and follows the more 
southern of the two streams which unite near Panjah to form the head of the Amu or Oxus; the 
return route to Aktash was by the northern stream (that followed by Wood) and the Victoria 
lake. From Aktash the party with which Dr. Stoliczka was associated returned by the same 
route as before to Yangihissar. The geological notes made on this portion of the return east¬ 
ward journey have been incorporated with those made in the same localities on the westward 
route. The former largely supplement the latter, which were made when the ground was 
much concealed by snow.] 
March 21st , Yangihissar to Ighiz Yar .—Started for Sarikol under Gordon, with Bid- 
dulph and Trotter. March of about 18 miles almost due south. A mile from Yangihissar 
we crossed several low ridges, extending for about a couple of miles, of what appeared 
to he upper Artysh beds, consisting of sand, clay, and conglomeratic beds. The dip was at 
first north by east, then the beds were horizontal, and further on they dipped to south by 
west. Crossed the Yangihissar stream, and traversed, first, a saline plain, and then one of 
gravel. The ascent throughout was very gradual, but must have amounted altogether to 
more than 1,000 feet. 
March 22nd, AMala .—A march of about 18 miles, chiefly in a south-western direction. 
The low lulls west of Ighiz Yar are composed of lower Artysh beds, hardened greenish sand¬ 
stones much contorted. 1 Leaving Ighiz Yar, we crossed the plain for about 3 miles, and 
then entered the narrow valley of the Bin or Bing river. 
The rocks at the entrance are lower Artysh sandstones, much contorted and disturbed- 
They continue for fully a mile, and are then succeeded by greenish sandstones and shales 
of a much older appearance. These rocks are again at first very much disturbed, but further 
on they dip regularly at a low angle to west by south, or even to west. The general dip, 
however, appears to be north-east. Nearer to the camp Aktala, the sandstones and slates 
alternate with highly carbonaceous shales and slates, and some highly ferruginous or hsema- 
1 On the return route from the Pamir and Wakhan on this march from Aktala to Ighiz Yar the following remark occurs: “The 
same slates and thin-hedded sandstones continue all the way. Towards the plain they alternate with coarser and conglomeratic 
beds ; but they all appear to belong to the same old series.” I infer from this that Dr. Stoliczka was finally inclined to believe that 
the rocks near Ighiz Yar, which he at first assigned to the Artysh beds (tertiary), were really older. 
