304 Travels in Central Asia. [No. 3. 



natural reservoir in limestone, called Loong, a short day's march 

 N. N. W. from Thesprak where there is a village of Khoioos — holy 

 shrine and springs, caves and two idols called Keoo and Beth. 



24ith. — E. and by S. at first very barren and rugged — then through 

 vales with alpine flowers; meet hunters of Khioo tribe, at Pra; 

 ruins of a round tower ; a cave commences here, said to lead to 

 Thesprak. 



Hunters had an ibex, a chamois, and a quee, a small goat, the size 

 of a cat. They were dressed in chamois skins, hair outside, and 

 bear skin caps ; head shaved (the Oorgs had long hair). 



25th. — Along a deep ravine N. E. to foot of snowy range, then S. 

 and S. E. ; crossed numerous currents over logs ; very barren ; two 

 hours before sunset re'ached base of Shehelkhale ; ascent very steep ; 

 loose stones and rocks, nearly to snow line ; passed sunset when 

 they reached the caves. 



Dinner of half roast goat, and uncooked preserved bear's meat, 

 with oongzoo, a sort of tart, wine to drink. 



26th. — Before breakfast, looked about innumerable scattered 

 caves ; very small entrances, dug in gravelly bank of mountain ; 2000 

 feet below is a wooded ravine, the orchard and vineyard of the place, 

 which has about 900 inhabitants. The Shoosher river empties into 

 Khaiemah two stages below Chitral. 



27th. — Description of the women, dress, &c. &c. At noon pro- 

 ceed to the shrine ; descended 1^ hour to vineyard and fruit trees. 



An earthquake, which forced them to halt in caves, where an old 

 man of 150, lived with 5 generations of descendants, his sons, white 

 beards, of 80. 



28th. — Eeached the shrine in J of a day ; caves in face of a 

 very high cliff; narrow and difficult path, and steep ascent to plat- 

 form and cave where the Oorgs live ; thence ascended again to a 

 platform, 15 yards by 2 ; entered cave 4£ or 5 feet high, 3 broad, 

 widened to 15 feet ; after 80 yards hightened to 25 feet, a fissure, 

 2 ft. wide ; entered through it into a large cavity 36 yards round 

 and 50 high ; on IS. side of it two figures cut out of the Shekel; that 

 on the right Sheh, on left Heh (or Zahel) ; by a less difficult path over 

 the rock and to a ravine to the saline springs, which are both ca- 

 thartic and emetic. 



