kara-ula,[1] and by the Tangutans Yegrai-vola-daktsi; they are situated on the left bank of the headwaters of the Blue River, called by the Mongols Murui-ussu,[2] and from the watershed between its basin and that of the sources of the Hoang-ho.
The general direction of this range is from east to west, but it is known by different names in its several parts. In this way its western extremity, as far as the Napchitai-ulan-muren,[3] is called Kuku-shili; its central part is the Baian-kara-ula proper, beyond these again are the Daktsi, and on the extreme east the Soloma mountains. The Mongols informed us that no part of the range attained the limits of perpetual snow. The Kuku-shili is about seventy miles long, the other three chains together upwards of 260 miles in extent, giving a total of about 450 miles for the length of the entire range. Its central portion follows the course of the Blue River, while on the east and west it diverges from it.
The Baian-kara range is distinguished from the Burkhan Buddha and Shuga mountains by its softer outline and comparatively lower elevation. On its northern side (at all events where we saw it) the range rises only 1,000 feet above the base, but the counter slope facing the south presents a bold precipitous front to the valley of the Murui-ussu, where
- ↑ The meaning of this name is 'rich black mountains.'
- ↑ [The 'Blue River,' as already observed, is the Yangtse-kiang. — Y.]
- ↑ This river flows from the snowy mountains of Tsagan-nir, and after a course of about 230 miles falls into the Murui-ussu. The width of its lower channel in winter is from 210 to 280 ft.; it is remarkable that its water is brackish to the taste.
