114 THE ROUTE PLOTTED DAILY. 



succeeded in deceiving the officials. When they 

 pestered me with questions and were curious to 

 know why I carried a compass, I would speedily 

 substitute the field-glass and place it before them, as 

 I always had it with me during the march. 



Sometimes it would be necessary to take com- 

 pass bearings when a number of these inquisitive 

 fellows were watching. My companion would then 

 try and divert their attention whilst I was thus 

 occupied. Numerous were the stratagems and arti- 

 fices to which we were obliged to have recourse in 

 fulfilling our task in the midst of a people who (in 

 the case of the Chinese, at all events), were hostile 

 to us. 



On arriving at the halting place, after unloading 

 the camels, pitching the tent, collecting argols, and 

 doing other necessary work which we shared with 

 the Cossacks, I would transfer to the ruled sheets of 

 paper the survey of that day, taking the precaution 

 of shutting myself in the tent and stationing a guard 

 at its entrance to avoid interruption. But even then 

 visitors would arrive and interfere with my work, 

 which could not be resumed till they were got rid of, 

 when I would finish and put It by till the follow- 

 ing day. 



I drew on the map the line of our march, mark- 

 ing all the settled habitations (towns, villages, houses, 

 temples, but never nomad encampments), wells, 

 lakes, rivers, and streams, however small, and lastly, 

 mountains, hills, and the general outline of the 

 country on both sides of our road. Important data 



