60 Report on Trans- Himalayan Explorations, §c. [No. 1, 



At Kashghar lie was detained for some time by the Koosh-Begie, 

 or Atalig Grhazi. He asked for permission to go on to Kokhan, 

 but it was refused; and he was ultimately glad to be allowed to 

 return via Yarkund and the Karakoram pass to Ladak, and thence 

 into British territory. 



The M i r z a has just returned, and there has only been time to 

 roughly plot his routes, which are complete from Cabul to Kash- 

 ghar, and from the latter to the vicinity of the Karakoram. 



His route from the Sirikul lake to Kashghar, is entirely new, 

 and promises to be the most interesting portion of his work. It 

 may perhaps throw some light on Marco Polo's route from 

 Europe to China, as that traveller stated that he went direct from 

 Budukshan to Kashghar without passing through any larger town. 



No particulars can be given as to the Mirza's work, but the 

 whole of his route-surveys, &c. will be reported on as soon as they 

 have been worked out and tested. 



With reference to farther explorations, an attempt will be made 

 to advance farther along the margin of the Aksai Cheen, or great 

 white desert, and if possible to cross it, and generally to explore 

 farther east towards the end of the great wall of China ; but the 

 jealousy of the Chino-Tibetun officials renders success very doubt- 

 ful. 



Expeditions are being organized to carry the explorations still 

 farther to the north of the Hindoo-Koosh, so as to account for the 

 geography of the upper branches of the Oxus, of the Pamir Steppe, 

 &c. ; and there is some chance that in the present state of Afghani- 

 stan, it will be possible to carry out these projects and thus to reduce 

 the absolutely unknown ground in that direction to a small area 

 within a reasonable time. 



Further routes will be made with a view to complete our know- 

 ledge of the geography of the Eastern Himalayas ; and it is hoped 

 that the obstacles in that direction may be surmounted within a 

 short time. 



The total length of route-surveys amounts to 1,820 miles with 66 

 latitudes and 61 heights of various places. The area of altogether 

 new ground of which the geography has been determined, is about 

 20,000 square miles, irrespective of a very large area of partially 

 new country, for the geography of which improved materials have 

 been collected. 



