AKSU TO SHATTA, IN TEKKES 51 



pine trees, which managed to grow on the southern 

 aspect ; while the tops of the ridges were edged 

 with them, showing that there were plenty where 

 the lie of the land was to the north. We went 

 shooting, or rather, looking for something to shoot, 

 in the evening ; for, in spite of glowing accounts of 

 the abundance of small game, all we saw was one 

 very wary hare. Next day, after coasting along 

 the hills for two or three miles, we entered the 

 Muzart River valley, across which the Chinese, with 

 their usual mania for walls, have built a line of what 

 they are pleased to call fortifications, with the main 

 fort itself in the middle. It is very nice to look at, 

 but as it would take a small army to garrison, and 

 one could nearly throw stones into it from the hills 

 at the sides, its practical use in case of the invasion 

 which it is intended to stop would not be great. 

 Here keys were produced, the gate was opened, 

 and we passed through, the Chinaman in charge, of 

 small rank, possibly a Customs clerk, not putting in 

 an appearance. However, after we had gone he 

 was either troubled in his conscience about us, or 

 wanted to show off once we were out of the way, 

 and so he proceeded to arrest our caravan. We 

 had already reached the camping-ground when news 

 of this was brought us by one of our men in an 

 almost speechless state of excitement. When he 

 had cooled off a bit he explained that the Chinaman, 

 persuaded by direful threats of the consequences of 



