CHAPTER LXXX. 
THE DECEITFUL TAGHLIKS 
T hat evening we made an arrangement with the 
Taghliks. Three of them, after being paid for 
the time they had served, were to return home by the 
same route we had come. Two of the others were to 
go with us over the Arka-tagh and were then to be 
dismissed, whilst the rest were to accompany us, like 
my other attendants from East and West I urkestan, 
until we again reached inhabited regions, wherever that 
might be. 
The last section of the Taghliks, namely those who 
were to go with us right through, begged me to advance 
them the half of their wages. 1 saw no reason why I 
should not grant their request, and I paid them. Some 
of the men from East Turkestan, whose families lived 
in Keriya and Khotan, sent some consideiable portions 
of their wages by the three Taghliks who were going 
back, and who agreed to give, before they started the 
next morning, written acknowledgments of the moneys 
they had received, as well as pledges that they would 
deliver them to the proper parties. 
This business satisfactorily settled, we all went to bed. 
The Taghliks slept, as they usually did, in the open air, 
protected by a rampart of maize sacks, saddles, and ot er 
wipedinicnta of travel. 
Imagine therefore my men’s surprise when they awo^e 
at five o’clock on the morning of August 19th and 
that every Taghlik, except my secretary Emin Mirza, had 
disappeared. Islam Bai woke me at once and told me 
what had happened. We held a council of war. My 
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