i86 CHINESE TURKESTAN 



they were unfit to go on, and even if they could 

 have reached Khotan would never have been able 

 to make Ladak without a long rest. As the donkey 

 loads of grain diminished we transferred our own 

 things from our travel-worn animals to the donkeys, 

 and so got on. The marching powers of these little 

 beasts filled us with admiration, but, of course, it 

 must be remembered that they started fresh, 

 whereas our ponies had done a thousand miles 

 from Kuldja before reaching Kucha. 



As far as I can see, the Khotan River has 

 nothing to recommend it. It was our shortest 

 way back, and was also new to us, which was some- 

 thing ; but there is a deadly sameness about it 

 which is usual in Central Asian jungles. However, 

 some information is always to be gained, and this 

 part of our journey exploded a long-cherished idea 

 of mine that the Khotan River might afford really 

 good sport with the Yarkand stag and jeron ; they 

 certainly both exist there, particularly about the 

 Yangi Daria, but the stags are very heavily shot 

 there in summer for their soft horns, and the does 

 as well in the autumn for their skins. A beg who 

 came with us part of the way told us that there 

 were probably a hundred shikaris out in the woods 

 after the stags, and that they would most of them 

 get one or two, which is a heavy drain on a country. 

 The stags are then comparatively easy to shoot, as 

 they frequent the more open places. He also said 



