638 
THROUGH ASIA 
scarcely have [fallen in with these men, for at that time 
they were encamped in another place ; and it was several 
days from Kuyundehlik to the next shepherds’ camp, near 
the confluence of the Khotan-daria with the Yarkand- 
daria. 
A short distance below the camp of Kuyundehlik, the 
Khotan-daria divided into two arms. The arm on the 
west was narrow and winding, and hence was called 
the Inchicke-daria, as well as hidden in a thick wood; 
whilst the right-hand branch w'as broad, and entirely 
destitute of forest on its eastern bank. In the height 
of the summer both branches are filled with water. The 
latter washes the foot of a series of large sand-dunes 
known as Ak-kum (the White Sand). The shepherds 
asserted, that the Inchicke-daria was only formed about 
eight years previomsly. But the thick woods proved 
conclusively, that it was the older channel, and that 
the river was gradually abandoning it for its more 
easterly neighbour. The absence of forest on the right 
bank of the eastern branch proved also, that vegetation 
had not yet succeeded in maintaining its ground on that 
side against the persistent assaults of the drift-sand. 
When the Khotan-daria is in flood, caravans for Ak-su 
travel along the delta or island between the two branches, 
and consequently have to cross them by the fords. The 
distance between the fords is about two days’ journey. 
During the dry portions of the year the pools in both 
the main branch and the Inchicke-daria occur near the 
right bank. 
The district had a bad reputation for thieves and 
robbers, who make a practice of plundering small and 
weak caravans. But the new amban (Chinese governor) 
of Khotan had started a systematic war of extermination 
against the evil-doers; all whom he caught were summarily 
beheaded. 
May 25th. My excellent friend Ahmed Merghen 
returned home to Tavek-kel near Khotan, but left his 
son Kasim with us. We rode down the winding bed of 
the Inchicke-daria, the banks of which were covered with 
