1895.] H. G. Raverty —Tibbcit three hundred and sixty-jive years ago. 101 
but the merit would be all the greater; aud that it was necessary to 
follow Mirza Haidar, referring to myself, and complete the work they 
had undertaken. The Khan therefore returned from Khutan, and fol¬ 
lowed the very same route into Balti which I had myself taken. On 
the road his health gave way from an attack of dam-glri. He was very 
ill, and would often lapse into insensibility. His physicians tried all 
their remedies without avail; and although advised to give up proceed¬ 
ing farther by his Amirs, he would not consent. He was desirous of 
joining me, although he himself expected he should die on the way. 
He told them, saying: £ Take me onwards to the scene of operations 
while life remains ; and when I am incapable of anything, then you 
may do as you consider best.’ He repeatedly inquired about me, and 
prayed that he might last out until he had seen me. It was impossible 
for them to halt anywhere, notwithstanding the state the IQian was in, 
because of the excessive cold, and the absence of water and forage, besides 
which, the very act of delajdng in any one place would be the cause of 
increase of the malady ; and the only chance remaining was for him to 
be taken to a place where the effects of this dam-giri were by no means 
so great. The Amirs accordingly had taken the Khan to such a place ; 
and on that day I arrived in his camp. The Khan had come to himself 
again on that day, and was much pleased at seeing me, and thanked 
God that I had come ; and he actually recovered a little, so that we 
were able to conduct him into Nubrah. There a consultation was held, 
and each one gave his opinion ; and I represented to the Khan that, 
with all my search and inquiries, I found there was no place in these 
parts of Tibbat where more than 1,000 men could find winter quarters, 
and such a small number were incapable of suppressing any outbreak 
or quelling any hostility if it arose, and that, with the exception of 
Kash-mlr, no one could point out any other befitting place in which to 
remain for the winter. On the way, however, were several passes, in 
consequence of which, the weak state of the Khan’s condition would 
not possibly admit of his proceeding thither; that if the Khan con¬ 
sented to the arrangement, 1,000 men should be left in attendance on 
him, and he should return to Balti, where there was neither dam-giri to 
fear, nor passes to be crossed; while I, with the rest of the force, would 
proceed into Kash-mir and there remain for the winter, and when 
spring should come round we could act as might be deemed advisable. 
The IQ?an approved of this ; and as it was understood at the outset, 
that Tibbat was not a country into which a large force could be taken 1 
1 When Uktae Qa‘an undertook the final conquest of Khitae, in Rabi‘u-l-awwal, 
627 H. (March, 1230 A.D.), he despatched a force of 20,000 men under his brother, 
Tull Khan, along with whom was the Juzbl, Tuqulqu, to enter that territory by the 
