CENTRAL ASIAN EXPLORATION ii 
^ — K of all his goods and baggage animals. He managed, 
however, to retain his notes and instruments, and in spite 
of his reverses determined to persevere with the solution 
of the problems which had been set him. He wintered on 
the western shore of the Kurlyk-nor until March 1880. 
Thence he intended to steer his course towards Lop-nor ; 
but his Indian servant deserted him, carrying off most of 
his possessions. He himself was obliged to take service 
with a Mongol, who was going to Sa-chow. There he 
was well treated by a lama, but was compelled by the 
Chinese governor to turn back. This turning-point is of 
importance. It was from that region Przhevalsky made 
his journey towards Tsaidam and Tan-la in 1879-80; and 
in the same quarter Count Szechenyi’s expedition through 
China came to an end. With one faithful follower A — K 
started on his return journey ; but was again compelled 
to take service with “Chinese Tatars.” Finally, however, 
he reached Darchendo (Tatsien-lu) in safety, and at the 
mission-station there received every help from the bishop ; 
and thence returned by way of Batang and Darjiling to 
India. 
In 1888-89 the American Rockhill made a journey 
into eastern Tibet. Starting from Peking with only one 
follower and a few horses, he proceeded to the Koko-nor 
and Alak -nor, crossed the Yang-tse-kiang, and eventually 
got back to Shanghai. He could speak Chinese and 
Tibetan, and travelled in disguise. He did some first-rate 
mapping, measured heights, made notes, and says that 
previous European maps are incorrect and unreliable in 
respect of both orography and hydrography. 
Several other travellers, induced by the desire for re- 
search or by ambition, have of late undertaken journeys 
mto inner Tibet and towards Lhasa. Many have failed; 
vihile others can show good results. The most successful 
expedition was that of Bonvalot and Prince Henry of 
Orleans, which crossed Asia from north-west to south-east. 
The expedition followed Przhevalsky’s route along the 
T arim as far as the Lop-nor and the Altyn-tagh. On 
November 17th, 1889, they set out from the Lop-nor, 
