A Blinding Dust Storm. 



rode away, after an outing, the memories of which will long 

 remain. 



The following morning the Custom's Amban sent his Secretary 

 and card with a message intimating his desire to call, but I put 

 him off as I was feeling unwell from the effects of the queer 

 dishes at the previous day's banquet. 



The Indian traders were to be " At Home " that afternoon 

 at 4 o'clock, but unfortunately shortly after noon a tremendous 

 dust storm sprang up, locally known as a " buran," and upset 

 the arrangements, so I did not go out. These dust storms are of 

 common occurrence in Turkistan, the high winds frequently 

 prevailing there catching up the sand, and darkening the 

 atmosphere until the whole sky becomes black and threatening, 

 shutting out all objects so that at a distance of even fifteen 

 paces it is impossible to distinguish houses and trees, whilst the 

 fine dust penetrates everywhere despite the closing and barring 

 of doors and windows. Owing to these frequent storms the 

 atmosphere in Turkistan is invariably hazy, and for months at a 

 stretch distant ranges of mountains, which elsewhere would be 

 apparent to the eye, here remain invisible. 



In the evening I went to tea with some Swedish missionaries 

 located in Yarkand and who carry on a religious work. They 

 have recently opened a dispensary in connection with the mission, 

 which should prove a great boon to the natives if only they take 

 advantage of it. 



I also visited a house outside Yarkand in a large and well- 

 stocked fruit garden, where several European travellers have 

 stayed. There is a bridge in the garden with a number of famous 

 travellers' names carved on its balustrades, but the house itself 

 has fallen into disrepair, and is at present unoccupied. 



There is little of interest in Yarkand though I went all over it 

 accompanied by a Beg, one of the minor officials from the Yamen, 

 who had been detailed to show me round. 



At the close of the rebellion under Yakub Beg against the 

 Chinese the latter built forts in close proximity to the larger 



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