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ENGLAND AND RUSSIA IN CENTRAL ASIA.

set out from Kuldja on the 12tli of August, 1876, and the task which he had put before himself was the discovery of the mysterious Lake Lob. He had also some intention of continuing his journey to Tibet, if he found the Calmuck route from Korla to be feasible. He was accompanied by six cossacks and a Kirghiz interpreter. His road lay along the banks of the Hi as far as its junction with the Kash, where the smaller river, the Tekes, marked his course, and proceeding by the valley of the lower Kunges and the Zanma river he approached the Kashgarian frontier. He then, after crossing several passes, reached the valley of the Yuldus. These valleys are singularly fertile, and abound in some parts with fruit trees, and in other parts with rich foliage and vegetation. In the wilder regions large game abound, and the Maral stag, of which we have already spoken, is to be found here in its largest dimensions. By the banks of the Balgantai-gol (river Haidu) the traveller reached Charimoti, to the north-west of Korla. While here Colonel Prjevalsky made inquiries concerning the lake known as Chaidu-gol, which is not marked on ordinary maps, but which, according to the information he received, was very deep, and eight or nine days' journey round. "While staying in the town of Korla he did not learn much of its actual condition, although from subsequent evidence he heard that it contained six thousand inhabitants. But the country lying south of Korla was found to be very barren, and almost a desert. A mountain range, to which Prjevalsky gave the name of Turuk Tag, and a river,