ARRIVAL IN Y ARK AND, ETC. 
125 
swords and matchlocks. I may mention that only 
the infantry wear any regular uniform ; the cavalry, 
who form the mass of the army, and are simply 
equivalent to mounted infantry, seem to dress as they 
please, and carry all their worldly effects attached to 
their saddles. 
We entered by the gate of the fort, and found a 
busy town inside ; passing through a crowded bazar 
for a hundred yards, we arrived at the quarters 
which had been prepared for us. Our residence was 
extremely spacious and comfortable, and had evidently 
been built and fitted up specially for our use, v/hich 
must have been a work of several months. Chairs 
and tables had also been provided. A splendid das- 
tarkhan was at once brought in. Our quarters con- 
sisted of several courtyards ; one of them was laid 
out as a flower-garden, and had a tank in its centre 
surrounded by rows of willow-trees. Three suites of 
rooms faced these courtyards, and a third yard, sur- 
rounded by rooms on all four sides, gave accommoda- 
tion to our servants ; another yard had good stabling 
for all our horses. Our Mihmandar, Tash Khoja, 
and his men were quartered at our gate as a guard 
of honour, two of the men mounting sentry, one at 
either end of a long passage which intervened between 
the street and our quarters. 
We had been led to suppose that immediately on 
arrival we ought to present ourselves to the Governor ; 
and he himself had written some days before, express- 
ing the utmost impatience to see us. This precisely 
suited Mr. Forsyth's instructions, and he therefore 
intimated his wish to call at once on the Governor; 
but we soon found that the Yarkandis intended to 
