Leh 187 



are obvious. The bronzed and weather-beaten faces 

 of these big bearded men testify to the hardships 

 of their lives. One cannot but feel some admira- 

 tion for a man who goes quietly off with his caravan 

 on journeys lasting for months in the wilds of 

 Central Asia, his start attended with as little ado 

 as that of a business man to the City. That red- 

 faced individual in the otter-skin cap is the latest 

 arrival from " the North," and as such is being en- 

 tertained by the Aksakal in his own verandah. As 

 they sit confabulating over their tea, one is brought 

 face to face with Sadi's tiresome acquaintance in 

 the " Island of Kish," who kept the poet awake 

 listening to his projects : 



" So and so is my partner in Turkestan, and I 

 have such and such merchandise in Hindustan, 

 and this is the title-deed for such and such lands 

 and for such and such property, and so and so is 

 security. Oh, Sadi ! I have one more journey 

 before me : if that be accomplished I will settle 

 down in retirement for the rest of my life. I shall 

 take Persian sulphur to China, for I hear it has 

 great value, thence I shall bring China ware to 

 Greece, and Grecian brocade to India, and Indian 

 steel to Aleppo, and mirrors of Aleppo to Yaman, 

 and striped stuff of Yaman to Persia : after that 

 I shall give up journeying." 



The interchange of goods between India and 



