SUGHEIT. 235 



ground, the stream became our road ; and a very awkward 

 one it was, full of boulders, and the incline now very 

 great. Grass began to form a regular border on the bank, 

 gradually widening until we descended into a narrow 

 valley, or rather gorge, and the grass filled the bottom. 

 The stream was fringed with willow-like bushes, which 

 also grew here and there in large patches. And this was 

 the much- vaunted Sugheit. But it is not to be wondered 

 at, that the natives of this desolate region should imagine 

 this strip of fertility a perfect paradise, and magnify its 

 beauties and merits accordingly. 



We passed a Yarkand merchant with a few horses, 

 who stated that he had seen a dozen or so of yak in a 

 spot known to Moosa. We had noticed tracks of those 

 animals, as also of shapu, on first entering the valley. 

 We passed on through some fine rich herbage a sort of 

 lucerne abundant and finally dismounted at a spot where 

 were two Yarkandies, apparently known to Moosa and 

 Abdool. Here we were to halt. These men did not 

 give a cheery account of our prospects, as they had seen 

 no game. 



Thoroughly down-hearted at having come thus far to 

 so little purpose, I took my choga and namba, and lay 

 me down moodily under a bush, and went to sleep. 

 When I awoke, Subhan and Moosa came and begged me 

 not give way to despondency. These Yarkandies, they 

 said, had at first been alarmed at the awful apparition of 

 a saheb ; but, having recovered, had declared there were 

 plenty of yak in the neighbourhood ; and one of them, 

 though now doing a mercantile turn, was a professional 

 shikarry, thoroughly acquainted with this country and 

 the haunts of the yak, and as one of his mares had 

 recently foaled, and he must be detained some days, he 

 would accompany the saheb, and shew him plenty of yak 



