542 
THROUGH ASIA 
8 o °2 Fahr. (26°8 C.). At a depth of 3^^ feet the 
argillaceous sand showed 61 “9 Fahr. (i6°6 C.), and at 
five feet 54°3 Fahr. (i2°4 C.). 
The material we dug through was clayey sand of a 
greyish yellow colour, and contained in places reddish- 
brown husks, the relics of some species of decayed vege- 
tation. Of stones there was not a trace. 
It was pleasant and refreshing to lie on the cool sand. 
The water in the iron tanks was 84°9 Fahr. (29°4 C.). 
A tinful was embedded in the sand that was thrown out of 
the well, and it speedily became cool enough to quench 
our thirst. 
Slowly and gradually the sand grew moisten It was 
evident there was water, although Yollchi believed it was 
a long way down to it. When we got down about feet, 
the sand was so moist that we could squeeze it into balls, 
and by so doing made our hands moist. And how 
pleasant it was to cool our heated cheeks against it. 
In this way a couple of hours passed. The men had 
grown tired. Their breasts and shoulders, which were 
* bare, dripped with perspiration. They kept stopping to 
rest oftener and oftener, and every now and again 
swallowed a mouthful of water. Nor did our conscience 
reproach us for the extravagance ; for were we not going 
to fill our empty tanks at the well we were digging ? 
In the meantime it had grown pitch dark, and the work 
went on by the light of a couple of candle-ends stuck 
in niches in the sides of the well. Their own instinct 
brought all the animals round the mouth of the hole. 
The camels, waiting impatiently, stretched their long necks 
over it and sniffed at the cool, wet sand. Yolldash came 
and squatted down on it, with his legs outstretched before 
him. Every now and then the hens too came and took 
a peep at what was going forward. 
Inch after inch we forced our way down, working with 
the energy of despair for life — dear life. The hope of 
deliverance gave us new strength. We were resolved 
not to be beaten ; we would dig on all the next day 
before we would give in. We would find water. 
