124 JOURNEY TO YARKAND. 



tailed species of India, flew overhead ; and 

 Waffles and Joker started hares frequently, 

 much redder and smaller than the mountain 

 hares we had previously seen. 



We were again the guest of an old Turki for 

 the night. It is the universal custom in Turki- 

 stan that whoever puts you up supplies all you 

 require ; and on leaving, a present of some cotton 

 print, a turban, or a few handkerchiefs is made, 

 according to the value of the things supplied. 

 As a rule they do not care for coin, except in 

 caravanserais, which are constructed for the use 

 of travellers on payment. 



In the course of the day our Jiggit, or letter- 

 carrier, whom we had sent to announce our arrival 

 to Mahomed Unis at Yarkand, returned, bringing 

 a sack full of melons, grapes, peaches, apples, and 

 bread, sent by the Aksakal for our delectation. 

 He asked for a note of acknowledgment, as he 

 wished to return at once, saying eighty miles in 

 two days was nothing to him or his pony. 



