CHAPTER XCV. 
\ 
THE TEMPLE OF TEN THOUSAND IMAGES 
I SAID adieu to Mrs. Reinhard, and made a short 
journey to To-ba, the place mentioned in the end of 
the previous chapter. The road still continued to follow 
the course of the river Tsunkuk-gol. At first, after 
leaving Ten-kar, the valley was narrow, and the slopes so 
steep that the cliffs which overhung the stream echoed 
continuously with the splashing of the cataracts. In 
several places indeed the valley was so contracted that 
it would be quite easy to block it. It is not therefore 
difficult to understand how it was the Dungan forces were 
unable to approach within twenty li (six miles) of Ten-kar. 
Several small villages were perched picturesquely on the 
cliffs and elbows of rock which jutted out into the loops 
of the river’s windings. Nearly every one of them was 
protected with walls and towers, their loopholes com- 
manding the valley on both sides. Long strings of 
camels, with tinkling bells, moved sedately on towards 
Ten-kar, in which town the Chinese meet the Mongols 
and Tanguts, and carry on a lively traffic with them by 
barter. 
Every village beside the road had been completely 
devastated during the recent war, and presented a melan- 
choly appearance. 
A man, of whom we inquired in To-ba, assured us 
there was not a single deng (rest-house or inn) left in the 
town. We therefore encamped in a field outside. The 
place was indeed simply a heap of ruins. Entire 
streets were choked with wreckage and ddbris. In a few 
places, however, but at wide intervals apart, the Chinese 
II--33 
1177 
