CHAPTER LX. 
CITY AND OASIS OF KHOTAN 
K HOTAN is a city of extreme antiquity. The 
beginnings of its history are lost amid the dim 
obscurities of a remote and legendary past. Some of 
the principal notices of a more strictly historical character 
are cited in Chapter Sixty-two. Hence, after merely 
mentioning that the name was first made known in 
Europe through the travels of Marco Polo, the Vene- 
tian, I pass on to say a few words about its condition 
and products in modern times, t.e. at the epoch of my 
visit. 
For generations, nay, I might say for many centuries, 
Khotan was especially famous as the place whence 
nephrite or jade was obtained. It occurred partly in 
the solid rock in the valleys of the rivers Kara-kash 
and Yurun-kash, partly in polished pieces out of the 
bed of the Yurun-kash. Jade (in Chinese yil-tien, in 
Jagatai Turki kash-tash) is in China esteemed amongst 
the greatest of rarities, and is used in the manufacture 
of small fancy boxes, bottles, cups, mouthpieces for pipes, 
bracelets, etc. One of the gates of Peking was called 
the Jade gate, because this precious mineral was brought 
into the city through it. 
At the present time Khotan is an insignificant town, 
containing within its walls scarcely more than 5000 
Mohammedans and 500 Chinese. Apart from jade, its 
most important products are silks, white felt carpets, 
hides, grapes, rice and other cereals, vegetables, apples, 
melons, cotton, etc. ; its silk carpets are remarkable for 
their beauty and fineness. The Chinese place them on the 
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