1866.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 185 



governorship of Yarkand, as they were tired of anarchy, confusion, 

 and constant warfare with one another, and oppression at the hands 

 of the Khokanees. 



After a stay of sixteen days, the author was allowed to take his 

 departure, and after a rapid march to Luk in the Yarkand territory, 

 and about 36 miles east of the city of that name, he returned to Zilgia, 

 and thence proceeded via, Sanjti to Shadula, the guard house on the 

 frontier of the Maharajah of Kashmir, and so southwards to Leh. 



The paper was illustrated by a sketch map, shewing the author's 

 route, and was accompanied by several Itineraries, partly derived 

 from native information. 



Extracts from a note by Colonel Walker on the subject of the above 

 paper were read, as follows : — 



" The position of Yarkand as assigned by Montgomerie differs by 

 about 200 miles in longitude from that assigned by the Schlagintweits. 

 I think Montgomerie's value is a full degree in longitude too much 

 to the east. We know the distance between Yarkand and Kashgar 

 pretty fairly, and we know the position assigned to Kashgar by Rus- 

 sian officers. If Montgomerie is correct, the position of Kashgar 

 must be considerably altered." With reference to Mr. Johnson's 

 paper he remarks, "It is the most valuable contribution to the 

 geography of Central Asia, that has been made, for several years, by 

 anybody in India." 



The Chairman, in proposing that the thanks of the meeting be 

 voted to Mr. Johnson, observed as follows : — 



" The paper which has just been read by our Secretary, Mr. Blan- 

 ford, seems to possess very considerable merits. The country which 

 Mr. Johnson describes certainly exhibits many remarkable features. 

 Whether we consider it in reference to its contiguity to three distinct 

 kinds of civilization, that of China on the one side, of the Russian 

 Empire on another, and of England or rather British India on the 

 third, that is to the south and south-west : or whether we look at its 

 somewhat isolated position on the high plateau of Central Asia : or, 

 again, if we turn to the character for good looks and personal beauty 

 which the author gives to the inhabitants, so little to have been anti- 

 cipated d priori in a people said to have a close connection with the 



