SEEKING INFORMATION. 183 



elder, the ' starchina ' of the village, who, 

 when he had been wanted eight hours before 

 to transact a little business was declared to be 

 at Betcho. But the spu'it jar brought him 

 back at once. 



A circle having been formed round the 

 fire, we began to seek for information, to 

 make inquiries about horses, and arrange about 

 guides. After the cup had been round the 

 cu'cle twice, guides were promised and horses 

 offered almost for nothing, while tur were 

 declared to exist in numbers about three 

 versts off, and to furnish the staple food of 

 the village. But when the jar was empty, 

 and no full one appeared likely to replace it, 

 truth began to creep out by degrees. 



Keesermann alone volunteered to accom- 

 pany us to Djuaria ; mules could not travel 

 the road between that village and Lachamul, 

 much less horses ; and as for tur, there were 

 lots at Xanskera, four days' marching from 



