Page:From Kulja, across the Tian Shan to Lob-Nor (1879).djvu/76

Rh of the water of this river in its upper course being mostly utilized to irrigate the fields.

Fifty versts below the mouth of the Ugen-daria a large arm, the Kiok-ala-daria (about 150 feet wide) separates from the Tarim and flows in an independent channel for about 130 versts before reuniting with the parent river. Into this arm flows the Koncheh-daria from the north.

With the exception of the Kiok-ala-daria the Tarim has no important subsidiary channels in its lower course, and is mostly contained in one channel. Along its banks to the right and left of its course are scattered marshes and lakes. These are for the most part artificially formed by the natives for purposes of fishing and pasturage—reeds being the only food for cattle in this wretched country. The river itself assists in the irrigation of its own valley. Fine sand and dust driven by the wind-storms prevalent in spring are caught and retained by the trees, bushes, and cane-brake growing on the banks, so as gradually to raise their level above that of the adjacent land, which is constantly diminishing under the influence of the same causes. Hence it becomes only necessary to bore through the bank for the water to pour out of the river and inundate a more or less extensive tract of plain. With the water come fish, and in a little while reeds begin to grow. After a time the channel gets silted up, the lake grows shallower, the fish are