202 Sarat Cliaiidra Das —Biuldhisi and other legends ahoiit Kholen. 
many Hor and Cliinese possessions in Li-ynl. To the east of Khokaii 
and Angiyan, &c., there is a ehain of lofty snowy mountains, to the 
east of which lies the country of Sulanu Okshi now vulgarly called 
Oosi, where is Arbu Parvata or the wonderful mountain. Its rocks 
contain curious figures and Thangssin mentions the existence of some 
(Gagnom) Buddhist ascetics who had attained the state of suspended 
animation. Some among them were known to have lived many ages. 
To the south-east of it close to the snowy mountains lies the pro¬ 
vince of Kasikara (Kashgar), the capital city of which is Kasikara with 
the fort of Yamkasar. 
These places were visited by the Chinese traveller Thangssin, who 
found them filled with a Buddhist population and with religious es¬ 
tablishments. Subsequently the country was overrun by the Golog 
Lalo (Muhammadans) who demolished Buddhism and converted the 
people to Muhammadanism. During the great dispute between the Sakya- 
pa and Digumpa schools, the Kasikar in the strife, troops and generals 
took part, and are said to have been all killed. Kow-a-days a Chinese 
frontier oflicer holds it. 
To the south-east of Kasikara is the large province of Yarkhan the 
Sanskrit name of which is Arghan, there is a remarkable mineral spring 
in Arghan w^ell-known by the name of Bula. There are also mines of 
precious stones besides that remarkable stone called ya^igti or jade. 
The river Sita (White Biver) one of the four great rivers men¬ 
tioned in the sacred books, issuing from the bright glacial slopes of the 
Himavat Parvata, flows through this country towards lake Mansoro- 
wara. Sita is also called Arghan as if it were the water of ablution for 
gods, whence the country derives its name. The water of the Sita is of a 
milky white colour. Thangssin calls this country by the name of 
Sukakai. To the south of Yarkhan there is a desert which having 
crossed, we arrive at the country called Gosthan or place of virtue 
now vulgarly called Khothan or (Khoten) which contains the moun¬ 
tain of Langri (Goshirsba) mentioned in the religious work called 
Langri Langtan. There formerly existed the great chhorten (chaitya) 
Gomasala Ganda arid many Buddhist temples and viharas, but after 
the country was overrun by Muhammadans, those were demolished. 
The Muhammadans of Khotan now designate Langri by the name 
Gorusheshi, evidently a corrupt form of the name of Gosirsha or cow’s 
head. To the south-east of Khotan and Yarkhan lies the Kahri pro¬ 
vince of Tibet and Ladak. On account of the extensive barren plains 
and lofty snowy ranges which intervene between Khotan and Ladak, 
there is great difficulty of communication. To the east of Khotan there 
is a vast sandy desert and also a river of which mention is made in 
