国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

He noticed at once that HUMtEL was not present at table, and when I explained that he was with the sick governor of Aqsu he found this very self-sacrificing.

When one gives a dinner for such a potentate, who comes with an escort of fifty men, one must also provide food for the whole of this company. We had therefore laid tables for them in the courtyard with food ordered from the bazaar.

NEW DETACHED PARTIES LEAVE

On Easter Sunday TING and CHAN set off on their long journey to the southern part of the T'ien-shan between Qara-shahr and Kucha.

On the loth of April MARSCHALL and Lm returned from the Bogdo-ula station, and it was now HUMMEL's turn to take their place. He was accompanied by his assistant and teacher in Russian, VoROT mcov. The doctor's patients were now so much better that he might safely leave them for a time.

On the same day YUAN also started out on a geological, palaeontological and archaeological tour to the northern foot of the Bogdo-ula range.

CANCELLING OF AVIATION PLANS

On April 25th Sm and I paid another visit to YANG. I wished to inform him that at the beginning of May I intended to return to Europe for a couple of months, and it was therefore necessary to discuss with him the question of the expedition's position and plan of work during my absence. All my requests, now as before, were granted. He asked me to buy for his account a pair of pistols with ammunition as well as a fair-sized telescope. We should be given passports and other necessary papers, and motor-cars to Chuguchaq.

The reason for my European journey was that I had received a telegram from Lufthansa, who on behalf of the German financial backers of the expedition expressed the urgent desire that I come to Berlin for an important conference. I had, moreover, pressing business in Stockholm and could the more easily entrust the leadership of the expedition to Professor Sm and Major HEMPEL as the meteorological stations were already assured and the various field parties were at work in their respective districts. As the Chinese had vetoed our flying plans there was no point in my keeping all the German pilots in Sinkiang, and I was therefore able to send four of them home. The Germans I kept out there would all be occupied at the stations. It was my dream to take advantage of the splendid position we had won to add to the Swedish scientific staff, and not least on this account was my journey to Sweden necessary.

Of these last hectic days in Urumchi, during which all preparations for my journey were made and all the obligations that were dictated by Chinese etiquette complied with, I will mention only a couple of episodes.

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