THROUGH ASIA 
504 
Man ; so that two or three times he flung' down the rope, 
threw himself on the sand, and challenged Islam to guide 
the caravan himself. When we came to camp, a violent 
quarrel broke out between the two men. Yollchi came to 
my tent, and said that, if he was to be interfered with by 
Islam, he had better go back ; and he also accused Islam of 
being close-fisted with the bread. He was considerably 
taken aback, when I quietly remarked, “ Yes, he had better 
go back ; but added that, “before he did so, he must repay 
me the 100 tengeh (22s. 6 d.), which he had received in 
advance as his first month’s wages.” That brouafht him to 
his senses, and in the most earnest tones he begged to be 
allowed to remain with me. I allowed him to do so ; but 
on the distinct understanding, that henceforward he was to 
obey Islam. I had my misgivings however that, when we 
came to face the loneliness and monotony of life in the 
desert, the differences between the two men would break 
out again. But there were no more quarrels. Although 
Yollchi nourished a growing spite against Islam, he wisely 
held his tongue. He always kept himself to himself, never 
talked to the other men, and slept apart, a little distance 
from the rest ; nor did he ever go near the camp-fire until 
after Islam and his comrades had gone to bed. Were they 
right, I wonder, in suggesting that Yollchi purposely led us 
in the wrong direction ? If so, he paid the penalty ; for 
he died of thirst in the desert. 
At the depth of about 3^ feet we came upon water, with 
a temperature of 50°; Fahr. (io°4 C.). The dogs were so 
thirsty, that they tried to fling themselves into the hole, 
and we were obliged to tie them up to prevent them from 
doing so. 
April 14th, Easter Day, we only travelled ii |- miles. In 
one place the dunes on their sheltered side were a steel- 
grey colour. Upon examination I found that they were 
coated with a thin crust of mica. I also made the dis- 
covery, that the green poplars only grew amongst the 
dunes. Where the dunes came to an end, there the 
poplars ceased also. Possibly the trees or their roots 
help in the formation of the dunes. 
