UNINHABITED REGIONS 
969 
following led us over one mountain-spur after another, 
we concluded it would be wiser to alter our course for the 
south, and endeavour to cross the Arka-tagh, so as to get 
upon the Tibetan plateau with as little delay as possible. 
We had gone but a short distance in the new direction 
when we discovered a small spring, and there, to make 
sure of water, we decided to halt. Camp No. III. was 
totally devoid of life, save for an occasional abstemious 
yappkak, and at their tassel-like tufts the hungry animals 
snatched ravenously. The water trickled out of the spring 
drop-wise, and a few yards lower down disappeared in the 
sand. But the men dug a trench, and when sufficient 
water had collected, brought up the animals to drink one 
after the other in their proper turns. That day we 
travelled thirteen miles ; on the two preceding days the 
distances were sixteen and a half and eighteen miles 
respectively. 
August loth. My journal for this day begins thus 
“ Fong Shi still in a condition of high fever, with pulse 
at 120 and an excruciating headache.” Indeed he looked 
as though death had laid his grisly hand upon him, and 
declared that the further he went the worse he got. I 
resolved therefore to dismiss him. Islam Bai too w'as 
afraid the man would die if we took him any further, or 
his Illness might compel us to make a long halt, which in 
that barren desert might prove disastrous. So long as he 
was well, Fong Shi was a first-rate companion ; but to 
have to listen to his constant complaints, as I had during 
the last few days, was very wearisome. But if we let 
him go back, how should we manage when we came to 
China? It was not an Inviting prospect to have to travel 
through China without an interpreter. Luckily I had 
profited so well from Fong Shi’s lessons, that I already 
knew the most important vocables, and the rest I could 
no doubt learn later on if it were really necessary. 
The engagement of Fong Shi had turned out a big 
mistake. He had already drawn three months’ salary in 
advance ; and now I had to pay for his return, by giving 
him a horse and provisions for the journey. Further than 
11.-20 
