S84 
THROUGH ASIA 
a volume of 5330 cubic feet in the second, we only crossed 
at the risk of our lives in September 1895 ; the Khotan- 
daria, which traverses the Takla-makan Desert from end 
to end, cleaving its way with irresistible impetus through 
the sand-dunes ; the Ak-su and the Taushkan-daria, which 
at the same period of the previous year we were only 
able to cross on horseback with the assistance of ten 
suchis or water men ; the Cherchen-daria, which carries 
a portion of the rainfall of Northern Tibet down to the 
plains, and in summer grows so powerful that for a time 
it stops the road between Khotan and Lop- nor ; and 
finally the Koncheh-daria, which, summer and winter, day 
and night, alike, has a steady flow of 2490 cubic feet in 
the second— we have, I say, learned that all these great 
streams are not strong enough to maintain a permanent 
lake in the heart of the limitless Desert of Gobi. 
At Chegghelik-uy, in April, we found that the conjoint 
stream possessed precisely the same quantity of water that 
its tributary, the Koncheh - daria, had alone at Korla. 
Where does the rest go to ? Well, a large portion of the 
water of the Koncheh-daria enters the northern group of 
lakes, and there evaporates ; the desert sand, like a 
sponge, drinks up another portion ; and the thirsty 
atmosphere, whose relative moisture in those regions is 
merely trifling, also absorbs enormous quantities. All 
these agencies drain away the volume of the stream. No 
wonder then that the small amount which survives the 
desperate struggle to cling to the surface of the earth is 
subject to such severe fluctuations both in respect of 
situation and of quantity. 
The fishing-station of Kum-chappgan marks, as it were, 
the entrance to the tomb of the Tarim. There the 
terrible Desert of Gobi, whose murderous propensities 
the human will and the giant strength of water alike are 
powerless to subdue, proclaims, in the name of Him who 
governs every change that ensues on the face of the 
earth, “ Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further ; and 
here shall thy proud waves be stayed.” 
