1 64 FROM YARKAND TO AKSU. 



who were also in the serai, and who seemed 

 very good sort of people. A Peshawuri, Ma- 

 homed Amin by name, came to visit me, a very 

 good old man, who had been settled there many 

 years. He said he loved the English and their 

 Government, which was the best in the world ; 

 therefore was delighted to see me, and was 

 most anxious I should take some money from 

 him, of which, he said, he had plenty. I assured 

 him I was very sensible of the kindness of his 

 offer, but that I had brought all I required with 

 me ; besides, as I should probably go back to 

 Europe through Russia, how could I repay him ? 

 "Oh," he replied, " you have only to write me 

 a chit, and the signature of the sahib is so good 

 that whenever I return to India, be it years 

 hence, I know I shall get my money back." 

 One of his sons then appeared with a tray of 

 almonds, raisins, &c., which he begged me to 

 accept for my journey. The old man had 

 travelled a great deal, having performed the 

 pilgrimage to Mecca, and had been to Moscow 

 and other parts of Russia, besides going back- 

 wards and forwards to India. Now he was 

 trying to arrange his affairs, to go back to 

 Peshawur and end his days in his native place. 



