The western district, of the Thian Shan Nanlu are occupied by several ranges, belonging to the Tartashling, or Bolor-Tagh. This mountaineystem extends north of the mountain-knot of Pushtikhur, from 37' to near 41' N. lat., where It descends with long slopes towards the valley of the river Sihoon, or Jazartes. In the interior of the mountain region, and within the boundary-line of Than Shim Nanlu, an extensive elevated plain occurs, which is called the table land of Pamir. The elevation of this table-land is ao great, that no trees are found on it, and travellers feel their respiration rendered difficult by the rarefaction of the air. The nomadic Kirghis, who visit this elevated region in summer on account of its excellent pastures, keep herds of camels and sheep, and of kaabgow, or yaks. ilisnsKanArc.) Among the will animals peculiar to this region are the kutel-kae and the rasa The Than Shan range extends along the northern boundary-line of Thian Shan Nanlu, which is separated by it from the government of Ili. This mountain range has been noticed under SONGARIA, where also the road is mentioned which connects Thian Shan Nanlu with the government of Ili.
Rirei-s.—Tho largest supply of water is derived from the Tart:tai ling, in which three of the great branches of the Tarim River rise. The principal branch originates within the mountain region in a large lake, called Karakol, which la situated near 30' N. lat., and receives the drainage of a considerable country which surrounds it on all sides.
The river issuing Minx this lake runs eastward, and is called Yaman yar. It leaves the mountain region below Taahbalik, near 73° 30' E. long., and is soon afterwards joined from the north by the Kashgar Daria, which brings to it the drainage of the north-eastern part of the Tartashling. Near the point of confluence the rivers are met by a third river, the Kezyl Daria, which flows about 200 miles in a direc tion from east to west, and brings down the waters collected on the mountain-chain which unites the Tartashliog to the Than Shan. After the union of these three branches the river continues to be called Keshgar DaHa, and to flow eastward for 300 miles; between 80° and 81° E. long., it iv joined from the north by the Akan Daria, from the west by the Yurkiang Darin, and from the south by the !anion Darla, which flow respectively from the Thian the Tartashling, and the Kuenluen mountains, and are from 300 to 400 miles in length.
After the confluence of these several branches the ricer is called Tarim, or Tarim-gol, and continues to flow in a nearly due east direc tion for 400 miles more, when, near 8S° E. long., it is lost in an exten sive lake, Lop-Nor, which is surrounded by still more extensive swamps. No river joins the Tarim from the south, east of 81°
E. long., but it receives a. considerable supply of water from the Thian Shan Mountains, by two rivers, the taint, or Chagar Darla, and the Banta Yulduz, or Kaidu River. The Ukiat Darin runs more than 200 miles in a south-east 'direction, and joins the Tarim near 84° E. long. The Kaidu River is probably the largest of the oonflueuts of the Tarim, as it collects the drainage of the Thian Shan Mountains between 80° and 87' E. long. Its course for about 100 miles is in an elevated valley, parallel to the Thian Shan range from cast to west, after which it drains another parallel valley about 200 miles long by an eastern course, and falls into a large lake called Basta-Nor, which is surrounded on the north and south by chains of high bills, but on the east by a seedy desert. In the hills which incleae the lake on the I south is a break by which the Bostu Nor discharges its waters into the Tarim. The whole conrae of the Tarim amounts to nearly 1200 miles in a straight line, or about 1500 miles including the windiugs of the river.
The Plain is of great extent, measuriog on an average more than 300 miles from north to south, and about 900 miles from west to east. It is about 2000 feet above the sea-level. The eastern parts of it are a complete desert, which occupies the whole country east of 8S° E. long., and surrounds the lakes of Lop-Nor and Bostu-Nor on the east. South of the river Tarim it extends westward to the banks of the Khotan Daria (81' E. long.), so that it covers about one-half of the plain. The worst part is that which lies east of 88° E. long., and ia called Han-hai, or the Dry Sea. Its surface is covered with a very fine sand, which is frequently raised into the air by the wind, so that the traces of the caravans soon disappear. Through this desert is the nearest road from China to Muni in Thian Shan Nalu. On the north, where it approaches the Than Shan range, this vast extent of desert is skirted by a narrow tract of hilly ground, which is fit for cultivation or used as pasture-ground. Its width may vary between 20 and 30 miles, and it is in many places abundantly watered by rivers which descend from the mountains on the north, but which sn soon as they have traversed the hilly regiou are lost in the sand of the Han-hal. Only a small portion of this tract can be irrigated, but it is cultivated with the utmost care, and produces varlona grains, vegetables, and fruits. It is especially famous all over China for its excellent melons and grapes. Cotton is also grown. The greater part of this tract however is used as pasture-ground for horses, camels, cattle, and sheep.