DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31772#0159
TRAVELS IN TUEKISTAN.
107
rounded, and in summer are covered with exceilent pasture,
affording extensive grazing for the flocks of tlie roving Kirghiz.
Tke descent from tlie Karkasu pass is to Cliikil Gumbaz
(forty domes), wliere we expected from tke name to find some
interesting ruins. We were also encouraged to expect tliis from
tke place being sometimes spoken of as Ckikil Situn (forty pil-
lars), and tke combined mention of dome and pillar naturally
led to tke idea of a building more remarkable tlian any yet seen
by us in Eastern Turkistan. We found, kowever, only one or
two small clay-brick domed Kirgkiz tombs in a ruined state,
and learnt tkat tke name of tlie place was derived from forty
suck kaving at one time existed tkere. A road branckes off
from tliis point to Yarkand, distant 110 miles, passing down tke
Charling valley and stream, and bearing about due east. In tke
time of tke Ckinese occupation tkis passage was watcked by an
outpost. Tke streams from tke soutkern side of tke Kaskasu
pass and tke eastern of tke Torut unite kere and form tke Ckar-
ling, wkick flows into tke Yarkand river.
Tke fiftlr day’s journey took us over tke Torut pass (13,330
feet), wkick, witk tke hills all about, kacl an almost unbroken
covering of deep snow. We saw a great many snow-pheasants
on tkis pass. Willow and poplars are plentiful in tke valleys
below, and give an abundant supply of firewood. Cultivation
on a small scale is carried on at Bas Robat, tlie halting-place
between tke Torut and Chichiklik passes. The streams from
tkese unite at Bas Robat, and flow in a soutk-easterly direction
into tke Yarkand river.
We proceeded on tke sixtk day to tke foot of a great ele-
vated slope leading to tke Chichiklik pass, plain, and lake
(14,480 feet). Two or tkree miles of tkis day’s marck lay
107
rounded, and in summer are covered with exceilent pasture,
affording extensive grazing for the flocks of tlie roving Kirghiz.
Tke descent from tlie Karkasu pass is to Cliikil Gumbaz
(forty domes), wliere we expected from tke name to find some
interesting ruins. We were also encouraged to expect tliis from
tke place being sometimes spoken of as Ckikil Situn (forty pil-
lars), and tke combined mention of dome and pillar naturally
led to tke idea of a building more remarkable tlian any yet seen
by us in Eastern Turkistan. We found, kowever, only one or
two small clay-brick domed Kirgkiz tombs in a ruined state,
and learnt tkat tke name of tlie place was derived from forty
suck kaving at one time existed tkere. A road branckes off
from tliis point to Yarkand, distant 110 miles, passing down tke
Charling valley and stream, and bearing about due east. In tke
time of tke Ckinese occupation tkis passage was watcked by an
outpost. Tke streams from tke soutkern side of tke Kaskasu
pass and tke eastern of tke Torut unite kere and form tke Ckar-
ling, wkick flows into tke Yarkand river.
Tke fiftlr day’s journey took us over tke Torut pass (13,330
feet), wkick, witk tke hills all about, kacl an almost unbroken
covering of deep snow. We saw a great many snow-pheasants
on tkis pass. Willow and poplars are plentiful in tke valleys
below, and give an abundant supply of firewood. Cultivation
on a small scale is carried on at Bas Robat, tlie halting-place
between tke Torut and Chichiklik passes. The streams from
tkese unite at Bas Robat, and flow in a soutk-easterly direction
into tke Yarkand river.
We proceeded on tke sixtk day to tke foot of a great ele-
vated slope leading to tke Chichiklik pass, plain, and lake
(14,480 feet). Two or tkree miles of tkis day’s marck lay