I об MUR-ZASAK. 



we halted in a narrow defile covered with brush- 

 wood, where we had the utmost difficulty in pitching 

 our tent and lighting a fire to warm our benumbed 

 and bruised limbs. 



The following five days' journey passed without 

 any adventure, and we reached INIur-zasak in safety. 

 This station is on the bank of the Tatung, only eight 

 miles from the Dungan town of Yunan chen ; but, 

 notwithstanding the evil repute of his rebel neigh- 

 bours, the Mongol commander lived on the best 

 terms with them, selling them cattle and taking their 

 merchandise in exchange. Thanks to the letter of 

 the treasurer of Chobsen, describing me as a per- 

 sonage of exalted rank nearly related to the Em- 

 peror, we obtained two guides to the next Tangutan 

 station ; of course not without presents to the com- 

 mander and handsome pay to the guides. 



The road now ascended the left bank of the 

 Tatune, and was much better than the one we had 

 come, the only obstacle to our progress being the 

 daily fall of snow, which made it very muddy and 

 slippery for our exhausted camels. The Tangutan 

 officer at the station (twenty-seven miles from Mur- 

 zasak) was an excellent fellow ; on receiving five 

 yards of plush and i ,000 needles, he sent us a sheep 

 and ten pounds of yak butter. We stayed a day 

 with him, and, having obtained new guides, left the 

 valley of the Tatung on our way southwards towards 

 Lake К око- nor. 



The basin of the Upper Tatung is very moun- 

 tainous and wild, the two chains of mountains 



