TO THE KARAKORUM. 213 



A kafila was announced ; and in time there arrived a 

 merchant from Buduckshan. He had about twenty-five 

 laden horses small, well-formed, compact animals. He 

 pitched his tent, a gay, green, flimsy thing ; but, after 

 some conversation with the shikarries, he struck it, and 

 pursued his way. And a horrible rough one he will find 

 it, poor man ! He has never travelled this road before. 

 I fear he must lose some of those nice horses, although 

 they are in marvellous good condition. He halted ten 

 days to refresh them at a place called Sugheit, where is 

 abundance of grass, and for which I am now making. 



My servants and horses arrived all safe, after much 

 difficulty and one or two falls. I went with Subhan to 

 look for game, and after a length of time we found, in a 

 deep nullah. I stalked carefully up the stony hill, and 

 was but just in time, as the herd of napu were on the 

 alert, and fled as I arrived. But I struck true, and saw 

 one lag behind as they darted down the steep. Blood 

 shewed on the side, and it just crossed the ravine, and 

 dropped. I fired into the lot going up the opposite side, 

 and dropped another. We made our way to the prey, 

 two female napu, on which Subhan performed the 'hallal' 

 duly ; then, placing a conspicuous mark by the carcases, 

 we returned to camp, where our success was a subject of 

 much rejoicing, and sent for the meat. 



Two merchants journeying to Yarkand had followed 

 me closely, and joined my camp. They came to see me 

 while at dinner, and on my jokingly proposing to accom- 

 pany them into Yarkand they assured me I might do it 

 with perfect safety ; they would answer for it with their 

 lives. I talked with them for some time, and felt quite 

 elated at the idea of visiting that famed city, hitherto 

 hermetically closed to Europeans. I was quite resolved 

 to attempt the adventure, and what with the day's sport, 



