Page:From Kulja, across the Tian Shan to Lob-Nor (1879).djvu/118

Rh S.W. to N.E., its maximum length in this direction being ninety to a hundred versts, whilst its width nowhere exceeds twenty. Such at least is the description that the inhabitants give of it. As for myself, I could only explore the southern and western shores, and accomphsh a boat voyage down the Tarim to the centre of the lake ; farther than this it was not possible to advance, owing to the thick reeds and shallows, indeed the whole of Lob-nor is over-grown with reeds, leaving a belt of clear water (from one to three versts wide) along the southern shore, and small open spaces studded like stars over the reedy expanse.

From the accounts given us by the natives it appears that the lake was clearer and deeper thirty years ago. Since that time the stream of the Tarim continually decreased, and the lake became shallower as the reeds multiplied. This went on for twenty years, but during the last six the volume of water has been again on the increase, and as the former lake bed, choked with reeds, is no longer large enough to contain it, the river now overflows its shores.

In this way not very long ago the belt of clear water extending along the whole southern shore of Lake Lob was formed. Beneath the surface may be seen the roots and stumps of tamarisk trees, which once grew on dry land. The depth is for the most part only two or three feet, rarely four or six feet, and for 300 or even 500 paces