TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS, 181 
The Yarkund Mission. Communicated by Colonel Broputru. 
The advanced party of the expedition, of which Colonel Biddulph’s brother, 
Captain Biddulph, was one of the chiefs, started from the station of Murree 
(Punjaub), on 15th July, 1873. It consisted of 80 men and 100 animals, and 
included Dr. Stoliczka, the celebrated Indian naturalist (who eventually suc- 
cumbed to the inclemency of the climate). They reached Leh vd Srinugeur on 
27th August, much tried by heavy rain, at times washing the road away, and by 
the temperature, which varied from 31° to 140° in a singleday. After afortnight’s 
halt they again set out by the Changchenmo route, passing the last human habita~ 
tion at Tanksee (on 16th September), 13,000 feet above the sea, an elevation 
continuing to Shahdula, a five weeks’ journey. The temperature continued 
variable, and at times very low—at the Sakti Pass (15,000 feet) 118° at noon and 
5° at night. After heavy snow, they reached the Pangkone Lake (142 feet 
deep) on 20th September, and separated on the 26th, Captain Biddulph wishing to 
find a short cut to Kiziljilga. After crossing very easily on foot a pass 19,200 feet 
high, a grassless track of low and rounded hills, like Brighton Downs, was reached, 
the gradient of descent from which was only 600 feet in ten miles. The Lingzi- 
Thung plains (17,000 feet) took two days to cross, traversed by snow-storms and 
most bitter winds, the thermometer being twice at zero within half an hour of 
sunset. Here, in spite of the precautions taken in sending on supplies and esta- 
blishing depots, twice they encamped without fuel and once without water. 
Kiziljilga was reached on Ist October, and, although snow fell daily and ink 
froze in the pen, was found comparatively warm. The party here again united ; 
but the severe cold utterly demoralized the native servants and caused much illness, 
a fierce cutting wind blowing daily from noon to dusk, so that little exploring 
could be done. Starting on 7th October, they followed the River Karakash, 
visiting jade-mines deserted by the Chinese, and joining the main body with 
Mr. Forsyth, who had crossed the Kara Korum without difficulty at Shahdula; 
leaving which place on the 21st, after crossing the Grim Pass (the most difficult 
they passed, though but 16,500 feet high), they once more met with vegetation, 
and, after crossing the desert of Gobi (four days) and camping in an oasis, arrived 
at Yarkund on 8th November. Here horses (like big Welsh ponies), cattle, 
sumptuous dinners, and fruit abounded, and daily marches of thirty miles were 
easily made. The Yarkundees are quiet and go unarmed. They will doubtless 
rise in the scale of nations, as they intermarry with the upper class Andijanees, a 
much superior race, There are no antiquities in this very ancient but entirely 
brick-built city. Its chief is the Dad Kwah, the second man in the kingdom, 
Leaving Yarkund on 28th November, the mission reached Kashgar in five 
marches of twenty-six miles average, and stopping two days at Yanga Shahr, 
where there is a strong fort. At Kashgar new and most comfortable quarters 
were provided, and the officers were allowed to go about the city at pleasure and 
shoot game in the neighbourhood. A treaty of commerce with the Atalik Ghazi 
(now Ameer) was negotiated by Mr. Forsyth, and finally returned ratified in charge 
of Mr. Shaw as British envoy. Permission being given to travel, Colonel Gordon 
and party went northwards (83° below zero in tents, 26° below zero outside), and 
Captain Biddulph eastwards. Letters were sent regularly to India during the winter, 
but were delayed by the comparatively low Zoji-la Pass (11,500 feet), sometimes 
closed for weeks by snow, which always lies lightly on the higher Kara Korum. 
On 17th March the mission left Kashgar and separated at Yangi Hissar, 
Mr. Forsyth returning to India and Captain Biddulph starting with Colonel Gordon’s 
party (42 men, 65 horses) for Sir-i-kol on the 21st. On the 30th, after crossing 
three snow-passes, they reached the important strategic position of Tashkurgan 
(11,000 feet) on the edge of the Pamir Steppe, commanding the high road to India 
by Chitral, and where various important routes converge. It is the last place 
on that side in the possession of the Atalik, whose rule appears most just and 
equitable, and who has increased the welfare of the country in less than ten years 
to a degree before unheard of in Central Asia. 
After much snow, traversing a road 18,000 feet high, and crossing four passes, 
they reached Kila Panja, on the Oxus, in Wakhan, on 13th April, vd Aktash and 
