SEQUEL OF MY DESERT JOURNEY 931 
beaten and cast into prison. But the cunning beg was 
still at large. 
After my return to Khotan the case was taken up again. 
The aksakal had a spy in the amban’s yamen (official 
residence), and it was his business to report what took 
place there. But we were satisfied, Liu Darin would do 
what was right in the matter, and would not let himself be 
bribed. The thieves’ destinies were in my hand. Chinese 
processes of torture often make men cripples, and the sus- 
pense in which the poor fellows were being kept, whilst 
awaitino- their doom, must have been terrible. It was of 
course my intention from the beginning to let them off with 
a good fright. I did not wish them to be harshly treated ; 
for had not the All-Merciful stretched out His hand to me 
when my life was in jeopardy ? 
Liu Darin put on the mantle of a judge, and asserted 
his authority with dignity and effect. He demanded a list 
of the articles I had lost, together with their several values ; 
and armed w'ith it, he himself, in his own august person, 
travelled all the way to Tavek-kel, and pursued his investi- 
gations all over again. After that the case was continued 
in Khotan. The evidence was very conflicting. Liu 
Darin wanted therefore to have recourse to the rack and 
the grill ; which I opposed with all the energy I was 
master of. Then he must at least use the rod ; and all 
through the inquiry both rod and executioners w'ere present 
ready to hand. But when I declared that, if they were 
employed, I must withdraw, for according to the custom of 
my country it was wrong to ill-use even a criminal, Liu 
Darin gave way, and respected my scruples. 
The hunters all agreed in maintaining that they had 
given the whole of the property to Togda Beg, and that if 
any things were wanting he was the only person who could 
tell where they had gone to. On the other hand, Togda 
Beg swore, that the hunters had stolen the missing articles. 
Liu Darin’s Solomon-like judgment was therefore this : 
" One of the two parties is lying, but the inquiry has not 
established which party it is. I therefore condemn both 
parties to pay back to our guest within two days the value 
