KASHGAR. 223 



retarding our progress very considerably. By 

 slow degrees we got through, and as we emerged 

 the country lay open beyond, and Kashgar was 

 at our feet. 



I had expected to find it a larger town, but it 

 did not appear to be more than half the size of 

 Yarkand. Entering the city by the east gate, 

 and inquiring for the Russian Consulate, we found 

 it was situated on the other side, outside the 

 walls, so I rode straight through, intending to go 

 and ask for news of Bower, who must have been 

 there for some time : indeed my fear was that he 

 might already have left, as his leave was nearly 

 up. However, on getting to the other gate, I 

 found he was still in the town, and living in a 

 house close at hand. 



