TO THE KARAKORUM. 219 



leaving the horses with the trusty Abdool, went in pur- 

 suit with every prospect of success. We followed a 

 nullah, screening us and leading to the rear of the 

 position ; from this we cautiously emerged, but our ad- 

 vanced scout, Subhan, in vain strained his eyes for a 

 sight of our game. We moved from place to place, and 

 at last were compelled to accept the unwelcome convict- 

 ion that the quadrupeds had instinctively outwitted the 

 reasoning bipeds, and defeated their well-contrived plot. 

 And, indeed, we soon saw them far in the distance ; so 

 we made straight for our horses, and resumed our weary 

 way up the sandy plain excessively wearisome every 

 hundred yards crossing the stream, or one of its innumer- 

 able offsets. My endurance was greatly taxed by holding 

 in front the fidgetty Sara whose feet, poor little fellow ! 

 were very sore from the stones. We passed one or two 

 places which we thought would prove the halt, but the 

 inexorable Abdool, his thin wiry limbs apparently unsus- 

 ceptible of fatigue, pointing ahead, still strode on, helping 

 himself over the streams with a staff, and grinning and 

 muttering something unintelligible when addressed, like 

 a menagerie baboon. 



At length, we did halt on a bare expanse of shingle 

 under a rock, without a vestige of vegetation a bad 

 look-out for the cattle. It was now about 3.30 P.M. 

 The equestrian party arrived about five ; but the coolies, 

 carrying the kheltas and provisions, were far in the rear, 

 nor did they come in till eight or nine. Luckily I had 

 some remnants of cold meat from my breakfast, on 

 which, with some fresh chupatties and tea, I dined as 

 well as though I had been at mess. I attended the 

 Bhoot tea-party again, and watched their operations, 

 warming myself by their fire. I also had another confab 

 with the merchants about Yarkand, and the feasibility of 



