I/O FROM YARKAND TO AKSU. 



The hunt for stags continued unavailing, and 

 I began' to think they must be very scarce. My 

 shikari allowed that such was the case, they being 

 so much hunted in the summer, when their horns 

 are in velvet, that being the time they are valued 

 for their medicinal properties. 



My next goal was a village called Bashkiok, 

 on the south side of the river, and on the edge 

 of the great Gobi Steppe. 



The only sport we had on the road was with 

 two flights of the eagle, after a fox and a hare. 

 The foxes are much like our own in shape and 

 size, but the fur is longer and softer, and rather 

 lighter in colour : they are much prized, and a 

 large trade is done in them. Many are shot by 

 the shikaris, who are very good at imitating the 

 cry of a hare in distress : this never fails to bring 

 up a fox to the gun if within hearing. 



The houses at Bashkiok are built in the follow- 

 ing rather novel but effective way. The country 

 along the steppe is scattered over with hillocks, 

 formed of dust and soil blown up from the desert. 

 A hillock convenient in size and situation is 

 selected ; a square excavation is then dug, which 

 gives a back wall and two side walls ; a front wall 

 of mud and wattle is then put up, and the whole 



