HASI,UND sent us a telegram to say that the burgomaster in Qara-shahr had received an order to the effect that Noxmv and HASLUND must return to Urumchi on account of military developments near Charkhliq.
Most fortunately, we had Chinese members in the expedition. Professor Sm was not a man to be played with. He was if possible even more indignant than we others at the arbitrary treatment that was being meted out to us. In such difficult circumstances it appeared more clearly than ever before how advantageous it was to have Chinese members and spokesmen in the expedition. Without their support we should have cut but little ice with a Governor who was so hostile to foreigners. True, there were some in Urumchi who believed that Cxix was more afraid of the Chinese than of the Europeans in our party, and that he suspected them of secretly being aspirants to the posts held by himself and those nearest him. So far, however, his unfriendliness had been directed chiefly against the Europeans.
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