202 TO THE KARAKORUM. 



tion, for all of which, biped and quadruped, I must carry 

 food, making this a rather expensive as well as arduous 

 expedition. 



Tar-gness has now, in addition to his matchlock, added 

 a large, rough, black- and-tan dog to his sporting equip- 

 ment, which he avers to be no end of a shikarry, and 

 especially good at shapu and napu. I am glad to have 

 him, if only as a watch at nights. I am now told that 

 we must advance four days' journey beyond the Kara- 

 korum range for the yak. I care not if to the gates of 

 Yarkand, if I do but get my extension of leave. I 

 should rather like the fun of a ' chappar ' there ; but my 

 gunners are such horrid cowards. 



The additional rations and some tattoos were promised 

 this evening ; and Abdoolah reporting everything de- 

 livered, and the officials waiting for my receipt and their 

 congee, I accordingly summoned them to the presence, 

 and the moonshi reading out all the articles supplied I 

 put them down verbatim, and gave him the receipt, 

 settlement to be made on my return ; so I avoided all 

 disputes as to price, and now relieved the kardar from 

 the sense of my displeasure, and we parted apparently 

 mutually gratified. 



9th August. I roused my camp, and, after seeing 

 preparations going on for packing and loading, set off as 

 usual ahead. The route was similar to the former, but 

 with more cultivation and grass meadows, and also large 

 patches of thorn thickets, about which we saw many 

 hares, two or three together. The last four miles to 

 Chanloong were very barren and sandy. We crossed a 

 large stream which Abdool said flowed from Sassar, a 

 mountain we have to cross. We arrived at Chanloong 

 at ten, the distance some twelve miles. There was only 

 one hut that I could see, and an enclosure containing a 



