THE RETURN. 265 



then turned up a defile to the right (southerly), which 

 leads out of this valley, and gives us a passage through 

 the mountains to Waad Jilgo, where we meet and pursue 

 our former route. Neither Moosa nor Ahdool have heen 

 this road, so all is conjecture as to distance and quality. 

 I believe it will prove a march longer. 



After ascending a couple of miles or so, we halted in a 

 glen affording grass, wood, and water, essentials for a 

 camp not always forthcoming in this desolate region. 

 The baggage arrived in due time. I admired two ghoonts 

 of Murad's, and accepted his offer to ride one to-morrow. 

 Abdoolah telling us that a sandagur had told him the 

 distance to Waad Jilgo this way was but three marches, 

 I determined to try and reach there to-morrow. It will 

 be a great thing, if we are able to get from this place to 

 another yielding grass, without a halt in a complete 

 desert as on the other road. 



6th September. We have severe frosts every night 

 now, and the mountains are coated with snow from 

 summit to base, from recent falls. This looks like the 

 beginning of winter here, and, if so, summer must be 

 short indeed, of but a few days' duration ; and it is well 

 I did not fulfil my project of entering the Yarkand 

 country, for twelve days may make a serious difference 

 in these mountain regions. The scenery is magnificent 

 in its canopy of snow which removes the unpleasant 

 impression created by the universal sterility, the pure 

 mantle of snow leaving ample scope to the imagination. 

 All around was exceedingly beautiful in the early doubt- 

 ful lights. 



I set off, attended as usual by the shikarries and one 

 coolie with breakfast, Abdool leading Murad's ghoont. 

 A stiff climb at once awaited us; then down into a 

 narrow rocky ravine, up which we scrambled, and became 



