388 
THROUGH ASIA 
AN OLD KIRGHIZ FROM SARIK-KOL 
Then, with the assistance of Togdasin Beg, we spread 
abroad the report, that I had gone to Kara-korum, on 
the southern flank of the Mus-tagh-ata. 
On the evening of August 19th I carried all my 
baggage and my scientific collections to the tent of one 
of my Kirghiz friends, old Yehim Bai, who hid them 
safely behind his carpets and felts. After our return 
from Fort Pamir we learned that the Chinese, who were 
greatly astonished at my disappearance, had instituted a 
search after me. Hereupon Yehim Bai thought it advis- 
able to transfer my baggage to a safer hiding-place, and 
concealed it under an enormous boulder lying in front of 
the Kamper-kishlak glacier, at the same time taking the 
