EXCURSION TO THE MASAR-TAGH 459 
to-day. During the morning and afternoon the sky was an 
ashen grey ; but in the evening the moon and stars shone 
fairly bright in the zenith, although near the horizon they 
were swallowed up in the dust-haze. In the morning 
again the blue sky was only visible at the zenith, but 
gradually merged into grey towards the horizon. 
March 4th. Our day’s march took us across a very 
extensive marsh, through which the Chinese authorities 
had built a road some seven years previously. As it was 
built to withstand the encroachment of the floods, it was 
constructed of piles, stakes, fascines, and earth. It wound 
through the marsh like a narrow ribbon ; and in certain 
places was carried over bridges, so as not to check the free 
flow of the water. In spite of this however the road is 
frequently inundated during the months of June, July, and 
August, compelling travellers to go all the way round by 
Kashgar. The marsh is in reality a low-lying lagoon, and 
is said to have existed from time immemorial. It is called 
Cheraylik-tograktasi-koll (the Fair Poplar Lake). 
Ala-ayghir (the Dappled Mare) was the name of the 
next station, a kishlak of twenty -five Dolon families. 
The same conditions of life and climate obtained there 
as in the foregoing villages. There too east winds 
prevail during the spring. Between Maral - bashi and 
Yarkand there was Chinese postal communication, as 
well as in general a very lively traffic, carried on chiefly 
by means of arbas (carts) and donkey-caravans. Camels 
are very seldom used. 
Ala-ayghir was situated rather more than half a mile 
from the Yarkand-daria ; but when the river rises in 
the summer, the water reaches the village. Two years 
ago even the winter shore-line ran just below the village ; 
but I was told that, more particularly during the last few 
years, the river has shown a tendency to shift its channel 
somewhat to the east. 
March 5th. We drove ten hours to-day, often over 
heavy roads, soaked in water, so that the wheels of the 
arbas cut deeply into the sandy mud. We passed three 
villares; and at the fourth, Meynet, we turned m at an 
