622 
THROUGH ASIA 
and observed the marks of our abortive attempt to dig 
a well. But as the day was oppressively hot, he stayed 
several hours in the shade of the poplars. With his axe 
he blazed the bark of one of the trees, and sucked out 
of the wound fully a cupful of sap, which both quenched 
his thirst and strengthened him. There he left one camel- 
load of goods. On May 5th he continued to press on 
in our footsteps, and on the following day arrived at the 
first dry river-bed, where he again observed our unsuccess- 
ful attempt at a well. There he lost one of the camels, 
the one which had been freed from its load. The animal 
broke loose, and of its own accord went off towards the 
east. Up to that point Yolldash, although dying, had 
dragged himself along after the caravan ; but from that 
time Islam never saw him again, and therefore concluded 
he must be dead. On May 7th my riding-camel Boghra 
fell, and about an hour later Nahr also. The latter 
carried all the instruments for measuring altitudes, cigars, 
tea, sugar, candles, and some macaroni. At last Islam 
succeeded in reaching the river with the white camel ; 
but when he saw it was dry, he gave way to despair, 
and deliberately lay down to die, calmly and in peace. 
That was on the morning of May 8th ; and as if by a 
miraculous interposition, at noon on that same day the 
three merchants came that way, saw him, and gave him 
bread and water, and he was saved. Shortly after that, 
he fell in with Kasim, who told him, that I had got on 
splendidly, but that he had not the slightest idea where 
I had gone to. Kasim was stupid enough to say, he 
believed I had gone to the north, towards Ak-su ; but 
Islam was fortunately sharper-witted, and decided to look 
for me towards the south, in the direction of Khotan. 
Then he met Pasi Akhun, whom I had sent in quest of 
him, and now — there he was. 
Thus, as will be seen, Islam Bai had acted like a hero ; 
for whilst I and Kasim thought only of ourselves, he had 
done his utmost to save that portion of my belongings 
to which he knew I attached the greatest value. He 
had therefore gradually transferred them all to the back 
