OUR YARKAND QUARTERS. 127 



the old Yangi Hissar of Yakub Beg on our 

 right. This had been demolished by the Chinese, 

 for no earthly reason except the love of destruc- 

 tion, as they built this city on similar ground 

 close by. 



In a suburb of gardens and orchards we were 

 shown our place of abode. They feared we 

 might find it cold, as it was built for a summer 

 residence, but as we had asked to be without 

 the city, it was the best they could do for us. 

 It was a curious rambling building of bricks, 

 composed more of verandahs fronted with lattice- 

 work, rather than rooms, doubtless very pleasant 

 in summer : but as we had asked for a country 

 residence, we had to make the best of it ; and we 

 saw that by pasting up the lattice-work with 

 thick paper, and keeping up good fires, we 

 should do very well. There was plenty of 

 wood, and they promised we should have an 

 ample supply. 



As soon as our ponies came in, we began 

 to get our residence in order. A man was 

 sent off for thick country paper and paste-pot, 

 fires were lit, and in no time we had every- 

 thing snug and ship-shape. 



Visitors began to pour in, and the teapot 



