THE SPURS OF THE ARKA-TAGH 979 
We were compelled to spend August 13th and 14th 
at camp No. V., and for a distressing reason. At first 
the men tried to make out that the animals needed rest ; 
but on the morning of the 13th Islam Bai was reported 
to me as being seriously ill. The poor fellow had been 
distressed at the idea of my losing so much as a single 
day on his account, and for that reason bade the other 
men throw the blame upon the beasts. He was in a 
high fever, with high pulse, palpitation of the heart, and 
headache ; but he did not believe it was mountain-sickness, 
for he coughed up blood, and was so weak that he could 
not lift his hand to his mouth. 
In my journal are these words : “ Islam begged the 
other men to try and persuade me to go on again in 
the morning, and leave him behind with two of the 
Taghliks, who also were unwell. He proposed to hand 
over the boxes and keys, as well as the control of the 
provisions and ammunition, to Parpi Bai. If he got 
better, he would try to w'ork his way back over the 
Tokkuz-davan to Cherchen, and thence home via Kashgar. 
I gave him quinine and morphia and applied a mustard 
plaster, to draw the blood away from his head. After 
that he slept several hours. I am very uneasy about 
the poor fellow. His case does not look very hopeful ; 
he has never been ill before. It would be terrible to 
lose him. I should then be lonely indeed. He has 
been with me from the very beginning, has shared all 
dangers and privations with me, has always borne the 
burden and heat of the day, and been a real help to 
me. It always fell to him to see after the preparation 
and equipment of the caravan ; and it w^as he who 
engaged trustworthy men to help, who bought the pro- 
visions and took charge of them, and generally kept 
a prudent and provident eye upon everything. Islam 
was w'orth any ten other men ; in short his loss would 
be irreparable. Yet there he lies, like a broken-down 
old man, moaning as If on the point of death. It w'ould 
be hard for him to be taken away now, on our last 
journey- — ^the seventh we have taken together after 
