THE YAK. 263 



them a dish of rice, and, with Moosa's assistance, I con- 

 versed with them. They are quite in ignorance of the 

 nature of the countries through which they have to pass, 

 and the length of the journey ; hut they know that the 

 greater part is under the rule of the l saheb-logue/ and, 

 therefore, feel sure of good treatment, and prefer this 

 route, in consequence, to any other. The justice and 

 liberality of the ' saheb-logue/ they say, is proverbial in 

 the most distant provinces of Asia : they, as have others, 

 expressed a desire to see their countries in possession of 

 the English. They requested my sanction to their tra- 

 velling in my company, and, of course, I acquiesced. 

 With regard to the supplies requested, they replied, that 

 they had only brought their own stock, but that we 

 should be together, and should I run out, then they 

 would supply me. This was satisfactory. 



In the evening I summoned the Yarkandi to receive 

 * backsheesh.' He had toiled hard, and done his best, to 

 obtain sport : he was delighted with two Co.'s rupees, 

 and made a profound salaam, with more grace in it than 

 I could have imagined him capable of. The Yarkandies 

 I have seen are very like Europeans, quite as fair, the 

 climate considered, and exhibiting great variety of feature 

 and style. This man had the most decided snub nose I 

 ever saw, completing a good-humoured face. 



All is prepared for the return to-morrow. "What a 

 distance I have come, and through what a horrid 

 country, only to meet with disappointment ! And the 

 prospect of retracing my steps amid such dreary scenes 

 is not cheering. I have added to my geographical or 

 topographical knowledge at any rate, and shall be the 

 first European, I believe, who has penetrated thus far, 

 and returned to tell it should it please God to spare me. 



