CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
ON THE THRESHOLD OF THE DESERT 
M arch 15th. This day marked the beginning of a 
long period of waiting, extremely trying to my 
patience. Day after day went by, but no cameLs arrived. 
I would gladly pass over these twenty-five days altogether, 
but find in my note-book certain incidents and facts that 
are not without interest. I made it my business to gather 
all the information I could about the desert that stretched 
to the east. For instance, to-day I heard of two men who 
a few' years ago started from the village of Yantak, on 
the right bank of the Yarkand-daria, taking with them 
provisions for twelve days. After three days they reached 
a disused river-bed, deep and stony, with a wooden bridge 
across it, but so dilapidated that it w'ould not bear them 
to walk on it. They thought at first of following up the 
course of the river ; but as they found no water in that 
direction, they retraced their steps, and went down stream, 
and there discovered quantities of nephrite or jade. After 
another seven days they reached the mountain of Masar- 
tagh, where they found kamish and obtained water by 
digging. 
Shahr-i-katak, as a rule curtailed to Ktak, is another 
legendary town w'hich haunts the same part of the great 
Asiatic desert. Its reputed situation varies a good deal. 
At Lailik I was told it lay five potais (twelve and a half 
miles) w'est of the village, and that many years ago a man 
found the ruins there ; but when it w'as searched for after- 
wards, it could not be found. The people say that none 
but Allah can lead a man thither. No matter how 
perseveringly he may search himself, he will never find 
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