THROUGH ASIA 
1 66 
of the portfolio or satchel which contained my maps, 
sketch-book, thermometers, and so forth. But I was not 
a Kirghiz. I found it impossible to sleep in that attitude. 
Every now and then Shir dropped off and began to 
snore ; but I could not sleep a wink. I tried the position 
we Europeans are accustomed to, but was soon chilled 
through by the cold, and had to rise and move about to 
get warm again. From time to time the horses nuzzled 
against us, as if to remind us that we had forgotten to 
give them their supper. 
Fortunately for us the night wind was not too fresh, and 
the temperature only fell to 4°i Fahr. (- i5°5 C.). 
THE STONE HUT AT AK-TAM 
About si.x o’clock in the morning day broke, and we 
mounted into the saddle, hungry and stiff with cold. We 
rode southwards for an hour, till we came to a place where 
there was a little scanty yellow grass, left by the last 
flock of sheep which browsed over the spot in the autumn. 
Whilst the horses grazed for an hour or two, I and Shir 
got a good sleep, for the sun was up and kept us warm. 
Having mounted again, we pushed on still towards the 
south. On the way we met a solitary Kirghiz, travelling 
on foot from Rang-kul to the Alai valley. As with most 
of his race, his eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s ; he 
had discovered us nearly two miles before meeting us. 
