The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-25
ASlATIC RUSSIA AND CHINA.
MI. severtscn,s Journey to tho Upper Naryn,
At.Bnsha md Aksai.

MI. scvertso0's Journey to tho Upper Nnryn,
At-Bnsha md Aksai.
The Russian government has had translated and
supplied 10 the European journals received by the
last mail from Great, Britain the following highly
important report OF the progress OF the explorations
of NJ. severtsor In Asiatic Russia and China detail
ing his route march to the Upper Naryn, At Basha
aud Aksai, with the view OF exploring the Than
Snan range, lying between the Issik Kul lake and
| Chinese Turkestan. II. Severtsotr says:-
On the l4th OF September, 1867 NJ. Severtsofr left
| Fort Vernoye for his expedition TO the Naryn and
| trans-Naryn country. fall OF snow had already
covered the mountains ana the groves OF apple and
apricot trees but there was every probability that
this early snow would disappear under the influence
OF the SUMS rays, and sucn eventually was the
| case.
Starting foot in east-nortneast direction, NJ
Severtsou crossed the northern slope OF the northern
cham of the trans-Hi Alatau range, and commenced
the ascent OF the range by the picturesque valley Of
the Turgen Ia tributary OF the HI. It's banks were
| OF porphyry rocks and its bed was covered With
granite pebbles. brought down by the glaciers, &C
cordlng to NJ Severtson's opinion, as they Overlad
the porpnyry, and could only have been brought
| down from the watershed dividing The Turgen
| and ASA rivers. The slopes OF the banks
| were covered with shrubs of black bar
ana there with apple trees; the black barberry
grows here up to limit OF 1880 feet and the
apple tree at $500 feet. AT 5000 ieet under
wood OF white ilr commences, well stocked with par
tridges The most remarkable species OF these birds
here met with were the eastern Siberian. These
IL,
In common with distinct KIND OF nightingale ftdi-
hope dtbigutU and other Siberian forms, are met
WITH on The hills running southwest by northeast.
The pass across the irst range 300 feep Is uncon-
nected with the sources Of the Turgen, which are
lower and south OF the pass. and are situated in a
longitudinal valley.
After an easy ascent from the Assa NJ. severtsolr
reached the principal pass across the northern chain
OF the trans-Hi Aatan, at height or from $500
1900 teet. This pass Is very narrow and entirely
bare OF trees, and the bare rocks were visible the
clouds rolled away from under the feet OF the travel.
rs
seen the amtnergeyer or bearded vulture (dypaetoS
baoatus) In the underwood OF white fir, about 800
| feet below the summit among Others siberian
deer, peculiar to tue Altai, was killed, and great
mountain partridge Encyclopaedia NiaetlU. De-
scending by the DUinlskke and crossing to the river
Chik NJ. Severtson raversed the bare steppe to the
| Merke riyuets tributaries OF the Charin or lett
two ranges OF the trans Iii Aatau the grasses were
OF the ordinary steppe character, at an altitude Of
| 5000 feet.
The wood OF Ak.togoi, at the confluence OF the
Karkar and Kegen, with, the three Merke rivuets,
| whose united waters form the river Charm, is
ated, not at the loot OF the range, but deep grau
tie assure dividing the range longitudnally while
| the three Merke rlvulets dow In granite deles
/ ming In an east and west direction. The valley of
| the kegen on the other hand Is WIDE steppellke,
| full OF springs and teeming with congomerates. In
tue thick low woods OF white lr there numbers
OF Siberian deer and roe deer while the right bank
the Ak-togoi abounds IN Ovls Ammon mountain sheep
and Siberian goats (Caprd St6t'1ca). Further "a.
Pass OF the southern chain or the Ill Aiatau
and came to the sources Of the issik.Ku the Tupe
buary OF the Djargalau Is situated the outpost OF
Aksu. IN the immediate vicinity OF which Tartar
encampment has already been established for trad
ing With the Kara Klr2 hIzes and Is frequented by
the Kashgar caravans, for winch 1t serves as halt
ing place. Here he was detained for some days by
bad weather. aud was not TIL the 2otn OF Septem
Der that he LETT Aksu. On quitting this pace and
after crossing the Dlattaksu, he observed IN the
Imam shan the gray sandstone ana conglomerate5
which are usually indicative OF the presence OF coal.
On the ID OF october he approached the mouth OF
the Boris Kaun which joins the lsslk-Ku thirty
IN aI
Jude OF the lake Qsslk kull he ascerlaned TO be
5000 1eet-a mean between the estimates OF Sems-
non 70, 4OO and Golubler 4,50u. Cereals (wheat and
barley! grow 800 feet above tie eve OF the lake;
but at 5, 1905 800 feet 1.-THE altitude or Asku) they 40
not flourish The agrlculturallsts are kirghlZes but
there Is actually one Russian peasant, VINO came
from one OF The provinces OF Great Russia to pros
pect the land Tor future coonist5. He has been
inere TWO years and has been very successful with
his crops on the Zank, and Is sanguine OF being
aDe W save enough money To return 10 AIS own
country, and get Others TO join aim.
Nj. Stevenson assembled the cnain separating the
1sslk hul from the Naryn by tae valley the 3ors-
haun. Through this valley the rushes bolsler-
ously, tumDng in CASCADES ana forcing way over
th2 large masses Of Gfante-evdently glacier drift
which obstruct lis course; but where is uDmpeded
BY the ROCKS .ts current Is smooth and oed shas
low. The banks are low ana covered with under
wood OF white mr. and walls OF granite rise perpen-
dcuary either side OF the valley. At the summit
oil tue pass Is u dat marshY valley fed With springs
and small lake that was moi frozen, though tue
thermometer stood at fifteen degrees Realnur about
TWO degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Here there
was no snow, though the limit Of perpetual
pass, which latter at It's summit N. Sew
efstoH computes. on a COMPARISON with the
Zauh Pass, 10 be not much under Il, coo eet high.
All tllat was visible III front was a low ridge OF
peaks dow IN Comparison with the eleva ell plateau
above tne passb and NJ Severtson descended 10 a
wlue, uneven valley by narrow though easy dele
Wnicn DIVIDES the watershed Of the two Djaaktash
rivers, one flowing on either side OF 1t ami one OF
which forces It's way through the range. In the
Vide valley at the foot OF the pass and on the
way to the Naryn river he observed at great
elevations higher tnan the upper zone OF the Juni-
land and covered with fescue grass Festlaca) and In
places WIN varieties Of vetches AstragatuSl
The river Naryp, at the point where NJ. seyertsof
Joined II near the lake Of BATH Kichg, nows through
an elevated, hlliocky sseppe; The hills low aud
aud Z few alpine varieties. Though the mercury is
below the freezing point for ten OF the year
these seppes are entirely devoid OF snow In Octo.
uef ana III places where II ieli the SUMS rays soon
melted 1t. The country Is very rich IN animal NE
countless nerds OF mountain sheep ana goats range
over these steppes, aud wild Doars are also
10 be met With. one OF the most inter-
esting species, however, was the pale yellow
steppe bear, u KIND OF Ursus IsabeiBus which was
seen ON the steppes between the Bors. Kaln and
Naryn rivers. TINS bear OF tue high syrts uplanosl
preys entirely ON tue marlnot. Al a distance Il
seems quite white color; in shape 1t Is yeyy ike
the ordinary bear. though OF smaller SIZE the female
measuring four aud quarter feet In lenrth and inc
male up 70 i've feet. Its ur 10 long ana shaggy: tae
nars are AZ much as four inches In length its
claws are straghter than those or the forest bear 10
Wlicn IL Is very Similar For tne sake or dlsiinc-
ton TINS might be called the marmot bear IL Is
remarkable tnat the bear and the wild boar should
W sucu DIVERSITY OF localities.
Inc sources OF the Naryn are uncertain. lhe KIr.
ghlZes, however, assert that IL taxes It's rise in
tne elevate plateau east of the FAUX. which IL
confirmed by the fact that In the meridian OF the
boIs-kaun dehle 76 deg. IS min east lonSlude) the
Naryn ls already OF considerable SIZE occupying
win LIS numerous branches basin OF three tO four
Nerst5 Two 10 Two ana hal miles, IN width. AZ
the Lake Of Bait Kichi6 1t stall is called the laragai
and only takes the name OF Naryn at a point wnere
IL Is joined u the Gan and kurmekt, flowing from
the south Here It's first descent ends; 1t tGen leaves
the elevated steppe and at an altitude Of 1900 feet
enters narrow gorge impassaoe lar as the
Litle AaIyn which noWS from the north,
taking Its rise Ia the almost unexp.o red region OF
the Bors-kauD pass, near the lake OF the name.
IAe second descent commences from the mouth oi
the Little Nafyn. and here the passes through
an unduatIng pam, between banks sixty feet high.
FROM Fort hurtka the valley or the Naryn narrows
70 twenty-five vcrsts seventeen miles,; aud near
Inc principal source OF the Chrchk 10 again enters
"A ir1un LII 4hnitl