n drainage, which finds an outlet in the Aktash Valley, and joining
the Murghab, which obtains that from the Alichor and Siriz Pamirs. As the
eastern Taghdungbash stream finds its way into the Yarkand river, the
watershed must be held as extending from that Pamir, down the range
dividing it from the Little Pamir, and along the Neza Tash mountains to
the Kizil Art Pass, leading to the Alai." (Colonel Gordon, _Forsyth's
Mission_, p. 231.)

Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon (_Forsyth's Mission_, p. 231) says also:
"Regarding the name 'Pamir,' the meaning appears to be wilderness--a place
depopulated, abandoned, waste, yet capable of habitation. I obtained this
information on the Great Pamir from one of our intelligent guides, who
said in explanation--'In former days, when this part was inhabited by
Kirghiz, as is shown by the ruins of their villages and burial-grounds,
the valley was not all called Pamir, as it is now. It was known by its
village names, as is the country beyond Sirikol, which being now occupied
by Kirghiz is not known by one name, but partly as Charling, Bas Robat,
etc. If deserted it would be Pamir." In a note Sir T. D. Forsyth adds that
the same explanation of the word was given to him at Yangi-Hissar, and
that it is in fact a Khokandi-Turki word.--H. C.]

It would seem, from such notices as have been received, that there is not,
strictly speaking, one steppe called Pamir, but a variety of _Pamirs_,
which are lofty valleys between ranges of hills, presenting luxuriant
summer pasture, and with floors more or less flat, but nowhere more than 5
or 6 miles in width and often much less.

[This is quite exact; Mr. E. Delmar Morgan writes in the _Scottish Geog.
Mag._ January, 1892, p. 17: "Following the terminology of Yule adopted by
geographers, and now well established, we have (1) Pamir Alichur; (2)
Pamir Khurd (or "Little"); (3) Pamir Kalan (or "Great"); (4) Pamir
Khargosi ("of the hare"); (5) Pamir Sares; (6) Pamir Rang-kul."--H. C.]

[Illustration: Horns of _Ovis Poli_.]

Wood speaks of the numerous wolves in this region. And the great sheep is
that to which Blyth, in honour of our traveller, has given the name of
_Ovis Poli_.[4] A pair of horns, sent by Wood to the Royal Asiatic
Society, and of which a representation is given above, affords the
following dimensions:--Length of one horn on the curve, 4 feet 8 inches;
round the base 14-1/4 inches; distance of tips apart 3 feet 9 inches. This
sheep appears to b