1857.] Report on the Progress of the Magnetic Survey. 113 



way from Kissilkorum to Sumgal we lost seven out of nineteen. 

 From Sumgal a road branches oft", as mentioned above, to Bushia 

 and Elcbi, and as there was some hope of procuring at these places 

 fresh horses, or Yaks, as well as food, our men were easily persuad- 

 ed to proceed in this direction. 



We started August 22nd, with only two laden horses ; we had to 

 cross a glacier Pass, 17,000 feet. At ten a. m. we were overtaken 

 by a violent snow-storm, lasting till six p. M. The road was ex- 

 tremely difficult for the horses, on account of a number of fissures 

 in the glacier. When we had gone some little distance farther, our 

 people finding it impossible to follow with the laden horses left 

 every thing behind — tent, blankets, and a small trunk containing 

 merchandise, money,* and instruments, (the most necessary ones 

 we happily carried ourselves on the ice,) taking only a little food 

 with them ; but even then they followed so slowly, that they were 

 unable to cross the last terminal moraine of the glacier before 

 nightfall. We were compelled in consequence to be in the snow 

 all night in our wet clothes. The snow had ceased falling, but the 

 cold was still so very great, (11.4° C. = 11.5° Fahrenheit) that 

 two of our horses died from it during the night ; one on the glacier 

 with our people, and the other at our feet. 



In Bushia, which we reached two days later, on the 25th of August, 

 we met with a very cordial reception from the inhabitants, and got 

 horses, yaks, sheep, provisions, &c, promising to pay for them, in 

 Sumgal. These people, half-nomadic Tartars, seemed very honest, 

 and the prices they asked were very moderate. They inhabit caves 

 fitted up like houses in the cold season, and tents during the rest 

 of the year. 



The height of Bushia is 9,200 feet. We dressed like the inhabi- 

 tants, and had also learned the necessary forms of salutation. The 

 people here are far from being savages, but on the contrary very 

 ceremonious. They took us, never having seen any Europeans, 

 for what we represented ourselves to be — merchants from Delhi. 

 Elchi, the capital of Khotan, was only distant two days' journey ; 

 but we found the people very reluctant to accompany us there, for 



* We used very littlo money, but chiefly goods, rich Indian cloth, for barter. 



