Abstract
THE last issue of the Izvestia of the Russian Geographical Society (xx., 6) contains an interesting paper, by M. Kosyakoff, topographer, who accompanied, in 1882, Dr. Regel during his journey through Karategin and Darvaz. The paper deals almost exclusively with the topography of the explored region, and thus gives a plain description of the explored routes, containing the necessary topographical data for forming an opinion on the much-debated questions as to the orography of that part of the Pamir region. A route-map, on the scale of ten miles to an inch, accompanies the paper. Starting from Penjkent, M. Kosyakoff soon reached the 9800 feet high lake, Kouli-kalam. Then he crossed the 12,000 feet high and snow-covered Bad-khana Mountains which separate the Zarafshan from the upper Surkhab, tributary of the Fan, and continuing to make his way amidst deep and rocky mountain-gorges, he soon reached the lake, Iskander-kul, 7120 feet above the sea-level. Thence, crossing the Mura Pass, richly clothed with vegetation on its northern slope, the expedition descended to Karatag and Hissar, and, by a route quite suitable for carriages, they proceeded further to Kabadian. A good route along the Waksh River brought Dr. Regel and his travelling companions to Kurgan-tube ; but, to reach Koulab, they had to cross the Tash-robat Pass, all covered from top to foot with pistach trees. From Kulab, which is more animated than Kabadian, the expedition went to the rich Mumin-abad Valley, peopled with Tadjiks agriculturists; thence to the twenty-five villages of the Dara district, and, continuing their journey north-east on the right bank of the Pendj, they soon reached Kala-i-khumb. The Pendj River being there but thirty-five miles distant from Tavil-dara on the Waksh, the expedition went there before proceeding further up the Pendj, and followed the upper Waksh in a north east direction for some fifty-five miles. From Kala-i-khumb, M. Kosya koff made a further very interesting excursion up the Pendj and its tributary, the Vantch, up to its source, whence he was compelled by a fever to return to Kala-i-khumb and thence to Samarcand. The map published by the Izvestia contains, more over, the very interesting route from Tavil-dara to Bal-juan, and thence to Hissar, and further west to Baisoun, Anar-bulak, and Yar tube.
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Geographical Notes . Nature 32, 163–164 (1885). https://doi.org/10.1038/032163a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/032163a0