A kat .5foantains.—The Altai Mountains which bound Songaria on the north are described in a separate article. (ALTAI Igotrmams.] The part of the Altai range which lies south of the rivers Narym and Buklitarma, and consequently within the Chinese empire, and in Bonged*, has been found to be the most elevated part of this moun tain system which le known. South-east of the Kolson or Kolzun Bielti, or the Snow-Mountains of Kellen, which are the highest in Siberia, is what is called by the Russians the Kurtshum Melt', or the Snow-Monntaina of Kurtahum, which attain a ranch greater elevation, and form on their snow-covered tops an extensive ice-field above which no transmit rises. Rat a very high summit stands near 88' 20' E. long., and this properly is called by the natives Egtag Altai, or Great Altai.
Mountain-Chains within Songaria.—It was formerly supposed that a continuous elevated chain of mountains connected the Mus-tagh with the Altai Mountains, and that this chain ran in a direction south-west and north-east- Such a chain does not exist. There is however an uninferrupted continuation of high ground between both mountain systems. So far as is known, this high gronnd does not in any place fall to the common level of the country, nor even sink low enough to lose the appellation of mountains, and in some places it rises above the snow-line. The most elevated portion is the range called /ren Khabirgen, which at its eastern extremity is connected with the Bogdo Odle. From the point of connection with that mass it first runs north west, but afterwards turns west, and may be said to terminate with a considerable depression north of the town of Ili, or Kuldsha. The length of this chain may be about 200 miles, and wo infer that it mint rise to a great elevation and contain much enow on its summits, from the circumstance that tho great road from Peking to Kuldsha traverses the chain at the depression north of Knldsha, and does not cross it farther east, though if it did the road would be considerably shorter. The western continuation of the ken Khabirgan is called the Tokty Mountains. This chain soon turns to the north-west and north, and extends along the western shore of Lake Alakul, or Alaktau-kul, until it terminates at the Tarbagatai Mountains. This last-mentioned chain runs east and west The Tokty Mountains are of moderate elevation, but it is stated that near Lake Alakul a summit occurs which is always covered with snow. The chain is much lower which extends from tho northern declivity of the Tarbagatai Moun tains first northward and then north-eastward, until it terminates on the banks of the river Irtish, constituting in this part the boundary between the empires of China and of Russia. This most northern prolongation is called the Khelrek Mountains, which are separated from the Altai by the narrow valley of the Irtish. Another chain of mountains is connected with the Tokty Mountains near the (south western corner of the Alakul Lake. It is called Ala-tau, a name frequently occurring in these parts of Asia; and it extends first east ward to a short distance, and then north-east, until it joins the Egtag, or Great Altai, near the sources of the Irtish. The eastern extremity
of the Tarbagatai Mountains is immediately connected with the Ala tau. The Tarbagatai Mountains run about 400 miles east and west, and terminate, like the Ak-tagh, abruptly in the western desert They seem to rise from 4000 to 6000 feet above the sea, and in some places snow in small patchesla found even in summer. These ridges, and some others, less elevated or less known, divide the greater part of Songaria into numerous closed basins.
The basin of Lake Issikul, or Temurtoo, occupies the most south western part of Songaria. The lake is nearly 100 miles long from east to west, and about 35 miles wide. At no great distance from its shores mountains inclose it on all sides, from which the lake receives a great supply of water. The surplus waters are carried off by the Tcboui, a river which leaves the lake at its western extremity, and traverses a great extent of the Khirghis Desert On the south of the lake is the Mus-tagh, and on the north of it is a chain called Ala-tau. It is said that these mountains contain iron-ore which is worked.
East and north of Lake Issikul is the basin of the river Ili, which falls into the Lake of Balkash. It is the largest and most important of the basins of Songaria; it extends more than 400 miles east and west, and about 100 miles south and north, and probably has an area of 40,000 square miles. The Ili is formed by two bead streams, the larger of which originates between 81° and 82° E. long., and runs under the name of Tekes north-east for more than 100 miles ; the other and smaller branch originates in the angle between the Iron Khabirgan and the Bogdo Oela, and rune west From the place where these branches unite the river is called Ili, and runs to the west, inclining towards its termination to the north-west. It falls into Lake Balkash by several arms, after a course of more than 300 miles. Lake Balkash is the largest of the lakes of Songaria, and has no outlet, though it receives several other rivers from the north and east Tho eastern half of the Ili basin has a very hilly surface, but it contains numerons tracts which are fit for agriculture. Since it has fallen under the sway of the Chinese the government has sent there a great number of military colonies, Mongols and Mandshoos, who unite agriculture with the breeding of cattle. Chinese convicts also are transported to the banks of the Ili. These Chiuese are said to have already greatly contributed to change the face of the country by introducing several branches of cultivation. Farther west, about 80° E. long., the hills disappear, and the surface sinks to a level The soil is much loss fertile, and is chiefly covered with extensive bogs, in which only canes and rushes abound. It is nearly a desert, mainly tenanted by innumerable herds of wild hogs and other animals; but in approaching the country of the Khirghis Cossaks, south of Lake Balkash, it becomes a dry steppe, affording pasture-ground for horses, cattle, and sheep for several months in the year.