ARRIVAL IN Y ARK AND, ETC, 
12 
the marks of musket balls in the wall, indicating the 
points at which the Chinese garrison had been 
hardest pressed. 
On our return we found that our ride out alone had 
not been very pleasing to the Yarkandis. They 
evidently wished to treat us well, but did not intend 
us to act as if we were entirely free. The Dad 
Khwah was placed in a very difficult position, for if 
he allowed us to go about freely, he could hardly pre- 
vent Mr. Forsyth from carrying out his instructions 
to return to India at once ; and it was very evident 
that without orders from the King the Dad Khwah 
dared not assist us to return. In fact, he afterwards 
got Mr. Forsyth to certify that he had used every 
legitimate means to detain us, and had not in any 
way facilitated our departure. 
During our short stay in the city our time was 
occupied in paying and receiving visits, and in ar- 
ranging for the return journey. It was clear that 
we could not trust to getting much assistance from 
the Yarkandis, and Tara Singh was accordingly sent 
to purchase horses and get ready pack-saddles in the 
bazar. This he managed admirably, and when the day 
previously fixed for our departure arrived, and there 
was some delay in giving us carriage, we were quite 
independent of any assistance. Everything we wanted 
during our stay was most liberally supplied, with the 
exception of carriage, and at last, when the Dad 
Khwah saw that it was useless to hold out longer, he 
sent us the horses we required, and we reserved our 
own animals for the Desert. For three days before 
our departure we were literally loaded with presents 
of furs and other warm clothing, not only for our- 
K 
