1/6 EXPEDITION TO KALMUK. 



" At the time of its destruction it was governed 

 by two kings named Tukterichit and Nukter- 

 ichib, who were said to be excellent rulers, and 

 much beloved by the people. They did not 

 appear to live at any one place, but travelled 

 about looking after the country, very much as 

 a district officer in India does at the present day. 

 Owing to this, everything in the country was very 

 prosperous, and the people contented and happy. 



" These kings were supposed to be of Mongol 

 origin, and had quantities of camels and horses. 

 For some reason, however, God was displeased 

 with the people, probably because they were 

 Buddhists, and so He commanded a mighty 

 south wind to blow, and after it commenced the 

 sky grew black, and an immense wall of sand 

 came up with the wind. Soon the country was 

 enveloped in pitchy darkness, so dark that no 

 one could see ; the sand became thicker and 

 thicker, so that no one could breathe, until at 

 last none remained alive in the whole land. All 

 the fertile tracks up to the great rivers were 

 smothered with sand, so that now only the 

 narrow strip of forest jungle which extends be- 

 tween the desert and river remains." 



This story was told in Turki, and interpreted 



