THE "KARAOUL" 171 



bit of flint, etc., all silver mounted. This belt was 

 destined later on to form the subject of long and 

 unsuccessful bargaining between the Littledales and its 

 owner. The others also carried belts of lesser value. 

 Their rifles, slung on their shoulders, were primitive 

 flint-locks. The length of their pig-tails was also in 

 proportion to their rank. Naturally our conversation 

 was of the briefest description, though I several times 

 put questions about kotchkor, of which they seemed 

 to be entirely ignorant. We now soon reached the 

 karaoul. It consisted of a few yotirts scattered here 

 and there along the banks of the stream. At the 

 further end of the village stood a more respectable- 

 looking yourt, surrounded by a wooden palisade, 

 into which were stuck several red and yellow flags. 

 This was the Kha's palace. We decided to pitch our 

 camp some two hundred yards away from the yourts, 

 so as to avoid the close neighbourhood of unwelcome 

 insect pests that would be only too delighted to 

 make acquaintance with European blood. Our pack- 

 ponies not having yet arrived, I went with my wife 

 to inspect the native dwellings, and found them even 

 dirtier than we had anticipated. A few ragged 

 Chinamen sat smoking their long pipes round the 

 fireplace, and the combined smoke rendered the air 

 stifling. They all seemed very astonished at the 



