THROUGH ASIA 
51^ 
river in six days ; but at two day’s-march from its bank 
we ought to be able to get w^ater by digging, as we 
had done near the Yarkand-daria. However, I bade the 
men take sufficient w'ater to last ten days, that is, to 
fill the tanks half full, so as not to overstrain the camels 
in the deep sand. With such a margin I felt perfectly 
safe against all risks ; indeed there would be a sufficient 
supply to water the camels twice during the six days. 
Yollchi and Kasim were told off to fill the tanks. They 
were at it a long spell in the evening, and all the time 
I heard the precious fluid pouring into the iron vessels. 
All the loads were got ready that night, so that we might 
start early in the morning. 
