that presents from a distance the appearance of a
camel. Near this there exudes a slight stream of
petroleum, containing sulphuric acid, with earthy and
resinous matter. Again, seven miles below the Koba
rivulet, that falls into the Upper Irtish from the right
bank, stands a hill bearing the name of Achudasta
Mountain, formed of horizontal layers of ochre, varying
in colour from dark red to yellow and white.
The local Kirghese prepare achudas or alum from
the red ochre, and also find the alum in a crystallized
state (alumen nativum cristallisatum). They use
this mineral in colouring their wares. Saltpetre also
is said to be found in the neighbourhood. Hillocks of
varied stratification, like the Achudasta hills, are numerous,
particularly in the direction of the Altai, along the
right side of the Irtish, as well as along the Kurchumu
rivulet, near the Irtish, and on the right side of the Zaisan.
Near the source of the Ku-Irtish is said to be a hill of
solid stone, from which naphtha is discharged, and
about xo miles from the Kara Irtish, between the
rivers Burchun and Koba, is a small saline lake, the
salt deposited on its banks being used for cooking by
Kalmuks and Kirghese. Between the same rivers,
but 20 miles from the Irtish, is a hill of mica, the
gleam of which in fine weather may be seen for half-a-
dozen miles. In former years this mica was transported
for sale to Semipolatinsk and elsewhere. There
are no^ volcanoes now active in the district, but Dr.
Finsch thinks that the Manrak rocks show distinct
signs of plutonic origin.
In the extreme south-east corner of the province
the chief constituents of the hills are porphyry, argillaceous
ironstone, and diabase, or some kind of greenstone.
In the precipitous gorges and narrow ravines
may be seen veins of quartz, displaying white, green,
and red bands. The spurs consist of yellow sand
and marl, from which issue warm springs. Mineral
springs also exist at the southern extremity of the
Makran hills, and near the springs stands a Buddhist
temple. The Chinese at one time had recourse to
this spot for curing various maladies, and likewise held
in great esteem two mineral springs issuing from a
small mound near the source of the Arasan Koba
rivulet. The water of both is cold and white as milk,
one spring being used by men and the other by women.
Gold is worked in the Kalbinsk range, and the mineral
products of the northern part of the province are silver,
copper, rich iron ores, and coal, whilst about Semipolatinsk
the formation is quartz, and, higher up the river,
of slate. Alexander Schrenk mentions felsite and
hornstone porphyry, as well as greywacke. The
ordinary formations on the Tas-Tau are sandstones and
schistose rocks belonging to the Carboniferous period.
Its peaks are of dolomite, whilst the rocks are largely
composed of granite, syenite, and porphyry. Russian
explorers have found in the ravines of tlie southern
slopes of the Tarbagatai great blocks of copper ore
and veins of iron ore.
The forests of the province of Semipolatinsk occupy
about 4,000 square miles, or 2\ per cent, of the whole
superficies. The conifers are distributed in six principal
groups widely apart,* but the foliferous trees,
chiefly poplars and willows, do not grow in woods, but
* i. Between the right bank of the Irtish from Semipolatinsk to
Pavlodar and the Tomsk frontier are pine woods, sometimes sparse,
growing in sandy soil. This group constitutes the chief wood reserve
of the province. 2. In the upper valleys of the Bukhtarma and
Kurchum rivers, principally on the northern slopes of the mountains,
are dense larch woods. 3. In the eastern part of the Kalbinsk moun