THROUGH ASIA 
846 
dense thicket. Wearied out, we encamped in an aban- 
doned sheepfold, and used up its posts and rails for our 
fire. It was the second night we were without water, 
and we were tormented with thirst. The men hunted 
about all over the thicket, but without success ; and had 
to give it up and wait until the morning. 
February 21st. The Tarim seemed to flee before us. 
All day long we sought for water. But though we 
discovered innumerable signs of men and horses going 
In every direction, yet of water we found not a trace. 
The road still led partly through the primeval forest, in 
which the trees stood so thick together that I had to 
use a stick to ward off the branches and prevent them 
from striking me in the face ; and partly through luxuriant 
kamish steppes ; and partly again across barren sand, with 
scattered tussocks of grass and desert plants. The desire 
for water was so painful that two or three times we 
attempted to dig a well, but it was only labour wasted. 
In one place we came across three sattmas (reed huts), 
with bundles of reeds stacked up on their roofs. We also 
observed tracks of men and cattle, which could not be 
more than a day old. A patch of cultivated ground, and 
a post and threshing-floor, were further evidence of the 
proximity of human beings. We shouted. No answer 
came. The forest was intersected by several dried-up 
watercourses ; but not one of them contained even the 
tiniest pool. We got deeper and deeper entangled in the 
interminable forest. 
All at once Islam Bai, who was in advance, shouted 
back ‘^Su! stt!” (Water! water!). And rightly enough, 
there was a large pool in the bottom of a deep winding 
watercourse ; but it was coated with thick ice. The 
caravan quickened its pace. The men hastened to get 
out their axes and spades ; and in a couple of minutes 
they had hewn a hole and were down flat on their stomachs 
drinking. 
We at once pitched our tent in a grove of grand old 
poplars. Putting all their strength together, the men 
dragged forward two or three dry tree-trunks, and when 
