26 CHINESE TURKESTAN 



several other places ; but by the end of August the 

 caravans must have pretty well finished it. There 

 are a few Thibetan antelope on the Dipsang, but 

 more between Brangza and Aktagh that is, of 

 course, also early in the caravan season. Later on, 

 when much disturbed, they go, probably to the top 

 of the Karakash River. 



On July 3ist we reached Suget, which is just 

 above Shahdula, and were glad to get down to a 

 more reasonable elevation again (about 1 1,800 feet), 

 as the weather up above had been very bad all the 

 way, with a constant heavy wind and daily showers 

 of snow and sleet. 



About here there are a few scattered Kirghiz, and 

 at Shahdula, which consists of a small mud fort, a 

 Chinese Customs clerk, on whom we called the next 

 day on our way to Ulbek. We showed him our 

 passports, after a lengthy inspection of which he 

 expressed himself very much pleased to see us, and 

 immediately tried to sell us a yambu (ingot of 

 silver), which he wanted changed into rupees. 

 However, as our ideas on the subject of exchange 

 differed considerably, there was no deal. 



Owing to the cold weather the Karakash River 

 was low and we had no difficulty in fording it, 

 which was lucky, as it has to be crossed twice and 

 often causes a delay of two or three days at this 

 time of the year, even when camels are used ; but 

 this time there was no trouble ; the bottom is 



