OLD AND NEW AKSU. l6l 



inhabitants. There is a small fort and an 

 Arnban, who asked for my passport, but begged 

 to be excused calling in person, as he found 

 it too cold to leave his house. Chinamen feel 

 the cold very much, and never go out in winter 

 if they can avoid it. 



From here I went by Bashirak, and sent on 

 notice of my intention of arriving the following 

 day at Aksu. The river was crossed by aid 

 of a temporary bridge, not without some danger 

 and difficulty to my ponies, as it was broken 

 in several places. Below the bridge there were 

 large ferry - boats moored, which are used in 

 summer when the river is too big to be bridged. 

 They were very similar to those used on the 

 Indian rivers, but appeared to be more solidly 

 built. The Yangi - Shahar, or New City, the 

 Chinese fort and quarter, was visible in the 

 distance, and seven miles beyond lay the old 

 city of Aksu. 



Four miles from the fort I passed the karaol 

 or guard - house, where a few Chinese soldiers 

 were hanging about, but they took no notice 

 of me as I rode by. Skirting round two sides 

 of the fort, I got into a bazaar which extended 

 for half a mile in the direction of Aksu. 



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