Across the Roof of the World. 



of peace and comfort to the mind after weeks of wandering 

 through inhospitable and arid lands. 



At the village of Posgam I struck the main trade route 

 from Ladakh to Yarkand, not, as the name might imply, a 

 brilliant example of the road maker's art, but as good as one can 

 reasonably expect in Chinese Turkistan. Lines of trees give 

 grateful shade, and compensate to some extent for any 

 unevenness in the road. 



Beyond Posgam I reached the Yarkand River, here crossed 

 in huge fiat-bottomed boats, and unfordable at this time of the 



CROSSING THK YARKAND RIVKR. 



year. The current was swift and the width at the ferry about 

 one hundred yards. Whilst waiting for the kit to arrive I sat 

 down on the bank and watched the operation of transporting 

 some Turkomans with their horses. 



First of all the barges were moored as close in to the bank 

 as possible, the horses being then led up and, in default of 

 gangways to facilitate embarkation, were made to jump 



