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NARRATIVE. 
and just enougli of level ground to allow of three or 
four of the smallest of tents being pitched. The rocks 
all around rose almost vertically to a height of, at 
least, 1000 feet, and we passed rather a wretched 
night in the midst of Kirghiz and Wakis, with their 
yaks and our horses and sheep huddled together 
almost as closely as they could stand. 
At daybreak on August 9th we were glad to get 
away to cross the pass, by far the most steep and 
difficult one on our route, although not the highest, for 
by the mercurial barometer it is only 16,600 feet 
above the sea. 
When about half-way up and just approaching the 
steepest part, we found some fine saddle yaks of the 
Kirghiz waiting to convey the whole pai'ty over the 
pass. These yaks were so fresh and frisky that it 
was rather a difficult matter to mount them, each 
requiring two Kirghiz to hold him by the horns until 
the rider was fairly seated in the saddle. When let 
go a most ludicrous scene ensued, for the yaks bolted 
with their riders in every direction but the right one, 
scampering over rocks and stones at an alarming pace. 
They are guided by two ropes attached to a ring in 
the nose, and it was some considerable time before we 
could get into the way of managing them. Some of 
them showed their heels, and tried to throw their 
riders, but the Yarkand saddle gives one an uncom- 
monly firm seat. After a time we were all fairly 
started on the proper road, and soon reached the top, 
from which we had a magnificent view. There was 
almost no snow on the pass, but there was a good deal 
on the high ranges to the south. 
On the return journey in September there were 
