28 START FOR CHINESE TURKISTAN. 



Government of India we were not to be allowed 

 to start until we had signed certificates to the 

 effect that we would not leave the main road 

 until we had crossed the Kilian Pass into Chinese 

 Turkistan. This took me quite aback, having 

 taken good care not to mention it to any but 

 those immediately concerned, fearing something 

 of the sort would happen. The reason given by 

 the Government of India was that they did not 

 consider the road safe on account of the maraud- 

 ing Kunjuts who infest it. We were much dis- 

 appointed, but there was no help for it, so we 

 signed the agreement. 



Under these circumstances, the sooner we were 

 off the better, as we should have to make rather 

 a long dttour. Our intention now was to leave 

 the main road as soon as we had crossed the 

 Kilian : we should then be on the Chinese 

 border, and the matter would rest between us 

 and the Chinese. Baratbai told us he had heard 

 of a path which branched off towards Kugiar due 

 west from the main road. As it was unexplored, 

 and would probably take us to Sirikul quicker 

 than going to Yarkand and back to Sirikul, we 

 determined to try it. This also suited Dauvergne, 

 whose object was to shoot some poli on the 



