PARTING WITH MAHOMED AMIN. 213 



a bore! In due time he drove up in his mule- 

 cart, preceded by a band of curious instruments 

 which made the most hideous noise. Going out 

 to receive him, I handed him in. Fortunately 

 he did not stay long, as he said he was ill, 

 but begged me to ask for whatever I re- 

 quired. I told him all I wanted was a guide 

 to show me where some shooting was to be 

 had, and afterwards to put me on the way to 

 Kashgar. 



I had to remain a day to make arrangements, 

 and was very glad to get these over and leave 

 the place, being much bothered by Chinese 

 visitors of the baser sort, who, with their usual 

 intolerable curiosity, made themselves most 

 objectionable. 



Mahomed Amin, to see the last of me, 

 accompanied me for a short distance outside 

 the town. I was quite sorry to part with the 

 old man ; and when we bade each other adieu 

 he was crying like a child, for he said he feared 

 he would never see another Englishman. 



Grass -prairies, varied with stony barren flats 

 where the moraines came down from the hills 

 on our left, was again the style of country, re- 

 minding me very much of the Taghdumbash 



