Across the Roof of the World. 



tent, announcing himself as one named Rasul, just arrived from 

 Kuchar, in accordance with a wish I had expressed in that town 

 to secure his services, in place of Rahim. Rasul's home was 

 50 miles from Kuchar, out on the road to Urumchi, at a little 

 town called Yangi Shahr, where he kept a store and earned a 

 precarious living. I had sent a letter through the British Ak- 

 sakal at Kuchar asking Rasul to join me in the latter town at 

 once, the note having been despatched by the Chinese Amban. 

 I had hoped some reasonable amount of speed might have been 

 exerted, all things considered, but such hopes were vain amongst 

 the apathetic Celestials. It took four days to reach Rasul, but 

 he nevertheless started at once, and followed me all through the 

 Yulduz Valley and down into the Tekkes, finally joining me at 

 the mouth of the Agiass. He was not properly speaking a Turki, 

 but an Argoon, that is, born of Turki and Ladakhi parents. I 

 was much gratified at this display of zeal, since he had been 

 travelling alone in my wake for 15 days, and at once installed 

 him as head-man, retaining Rahim to act as post runner between 

 the Tekkes and Kulja, and to bring out supplies from time to 

 time. I also engaged another servant here as general help and 

 to make himself useful in camp. 



Rasul had had a very rough time on the way from Kuchar, 

 but, following a frequented route into the Yulduz Valley and 

 thence onward via the Naret Pass, had escaped annihilation at 

 the hands of outlaws. He had, however, been molested by the 

 Kazaks several times and showed me the marks of blows received 

 in bouts with them. Beyond this, however, he had suffered no 

 serious harm, having informed the turbulent Kazaks he was 

 proceeding to join an English traveller and that any harm 

 befalling him would be visited on themselves by the Chinese. 



That night a Kalmuk shikari arrived, so the outlook became 

 more promising. His name was Sogoon, and he informed me 

 the best hunters were out with their flocks but would join me 

 in a few days, having been sent for by the chief Kalmuk at Shota. 

 to whom Rahim had shown my Chinese passports. 



208 



