EARLIEST NOTICES OF THE LAKE.
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LAKE BALKASH.
Earliest notices — Origin of name — First surveys — Russian explorers — ^Assanoff; Schrenk — Incorrect cartography — Fordoroff's observations — Height of lake and relative position — Rivers flowing into it ; the Di and its headwaters the Tekes — Muzart pass — Kulja and its neighbourhood — The Lepsa — Chubar-agatch valley — The Kara-tal — Buddhistic remains — Nifantieff deputed to survey Lake Balkash — Preparations; he launches his boats — Difficulties — He constructs a felt dam; arrives at the lake; begins survey — His assistant shipwrecked — He completes survey following year.
It was not till the final occupation of the district of Semirechinsk (or seven rivers[1]) in 1849, that the Russians seriously thought about surveying and exploring Lake Balkash. Up to that time all that had been done was to survey parts of the shores and collect the scattered notices of the few who had visited it. The earliest information given of the lake is contained in the Chinese records, the relations of this people with Central Asia from very remote times having acquainted them first with its geography.
Si-yui or the western country in the widest
- ↑ The seven rivers are the Ayaguz, Lepsa, Ak-su, Bien, Kara tal, Kok-su, and Ili.
