212 
THROUGH ASIA 
my tent ; but they had the good feeling to post them at 
a distance and out of sight. It was plain, they had 
received orders to keep us under surveillance, and find 
out what was my real purpose in visiting this remote 
corner of the vast Chinese empire. 
Whichever way we turned, we had a magnificent view 
before us. Due east, on the opposite side of the little 
lake of Bulun-kul, rose the sublime snow-clad mountain 
mass of Ak-tau, the “White Mountain,” the northern 
continuation of Mus-tagh-ata. On the left of^ it was 
the beginning of the Ghez valley, and on the right the 
broad trough of Sarik-kol. In the near foreground, and 
only a short distance from our camp, was the little Kirghiz 
aul of half-a-dozen yurts; whilst the mountain -slopes 
around were dotted with long-haired yaks, grunting as 
they grazed. To the south lay the beginning of the 
narrow glen called Kum-yilga, the “ Sand Ravine. 
