1853.] Travels in Ventral Asia. 297 



iSth. — Halt and visit Mahoo in detail. It is a great tumulus, 

 about 300 feet high and 2 miles round, honey-combs in every di- 

 rection with chasms and caverns, which are all more or less delete- 

 rious from mephitic vapour, encrusted with corrosive salts, grey, 

 yellow and green ; no reptiles or bats in the caves. A deep gully 

 allows an approach to the centre nearly, and discloses cut-stone, 

 earthenware and other marks of inhabitants : at the vernal equinox, 

 numbers of Akaas collect, and enter the caves in search of reliques ; 

 images large and small and broken, of which he saw seven, some 

 jasper, some of pottery, all pierced, and numerous fragments of 

 vitrified idols ; the pilgrims are said occasionally to find large ones ; 

 they often perish from the mephitic vapour. The whole ground is 

 a mass of extreme confusion, the upper portion of granite rocks, 

 heaped as it were on the ancient city. 



The tradition is that Ma and Hoo, twin brothers, both in descent 

 from Toth, emperor of the east, ruled for some time. Ma was a righte- 

 ous prince. Hoo murdered him by burying him alive. The prayers 

 of the dying Ma, caused Hoo to be buried alive, and with him all his 

 fellow citizens, the mountain tumbling down upon them. 



IQth. — Left Mahoosung, through hills ; reached Meeshaw. Here the 

 route by Dera Drewas meets this. Beyond this, extensive plains 

 stretch E. and S., which to the N. the distant range of Kalook bounds 

 N. E. and joins the Kebee or Ashan ranges. 



20th. — E. S. E., cross immense plains to Shooshee, a small village; 

 meets the first Kebee revenue office. 



21st, 22nd, 23rd. — Extensive plains occupied by the Kahall tribes. 



24<th. — Eeached Tarkund. It consists of two cities, one inhabited 

 by the Mahommedan Moghul population, the other by the Chinese or 

 Ketai garrison ; gates close at night ; 80 to 100,000 souls, 15000 

 soldiers. There is a Moghul governor (at the time Khan Ali Jan) — 

 the Chinese Governor was Shun Teth. 



Tea, green and black, packed in vellum, shawl wool from Chung- 

 tang, Porcelain, and Chrysoprase beads are the principal articles. 



27th. — Left Yarkund along the Kroo river to Phoom. 



28th. — Khoorgaleek. 



29th. — Below or eastern branch of Kroo. 



October 1st. — Jaunshun a small pond of bad water. 



