SUGHEIT. 239 



whom ho fell a victim a favourite every day topic of 

 mine, was renewed; and Subhan told me, to my surprise, 

 that Moosa, my Panamik recruit, had been employed 

 together with his father by government agents to obtain 

 intelligence, and procure any effects possible of the mur- 

 dered saheb ; that he had discovered the saheb's servant 

 in Yarkand, and got from him a boot and a book, which 

 he had delivered to a Mr. Leake in Kulu, who had 

 rewarded him, and given him the black tattoo now with 

 us, and a certificate which was at Ladak. He further 

 stated, that this servant had in his possession the saheb's 

 head, which he had sought for and found where he was 

 slain, some months after the event, he having been im- 

 prisoned, and only having escaped death by turning 

 mussulman. Much astonished at this unexpected revela- 

 tion, only now divulged, I sent for Moosa who distinctly 

 affirmed the above to be strictly true : he added minute 

 particulars fully bearing out his story. My interest in 

 this sad affair was much augmented by this fresh and 

 important intelligence, and I questioned Moosa on the 

 possibility of my obtaining an interview with the ruler of 

 Yarkand. Moosa now confessed that he dare not venture, 

 as had been decided, to procure fresh supplies for my 

 party, as the Affghan merchants now gone ahead would 

 have given information of a saheb having come to hunt 

 at Sugheit, and the destination of such supplies would be 

 at once suspected. Here was an additional argument for 

 me to risk the adventure ; so, after much cross- question- 

 ing, I find that five days' journey from Sugheit the road 

 rough, but grass at each halt is an outpost, or thanna, 

 where are stationed five or six Chinese soldiers, whose 

 duty is to detain travellers, merchants, and others, send- 

 ing information to the authorities in Yarkand of any 

 unusual arrival ; and according to the orders returned is 



