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0190 History of the Expedition in Asia, 1927-1935 : vol.3
History of the Expedition in Asia, 1927-1935 : vol.3 / Page 190 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000210
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VII. BY CANOE TO LOPNOR

SETTING OUT FROM KORLA

It was past midday on April ist before we could start southwards from Korla. In time of war, when most of the population has migrated to peaceful regions, there is no-one to regulate the flow of the irrigation canals; and stretches of high road were in consequence now under water. The three motor-lorries went splashing through these lakes with the water streaming round the wheels, but the small car got stuck, and had to be hauled clear with the aid of a rope and a few peasants from neighbouring farms.

We halted for a few minutes at the memorable scene of the attack of March 11th, finding in the willow trunks some of the holes made by the Tungan bullets. This time no danger threatened except the frail little wooden bridges, which, strange to say, bore the weight of our heavy loads.

The willow avenue came to an end, and we caught a glimpse of some women at a last farm; a belt of steppe came next, without bushes or trees, and then we went on southward over barren gobi.

This belt of desert was narrow, and we were soon once more rolling through clouds of dust over soft, gently undulating ground covered with herbage. We crossed several canals, one or two of them fairly wide.

As dusk fell we were approaching the outskirts of the scattered village of Shinega, inhabited by a few Turki families; and here we sought out a suitable place for our camp No. 52 on the margin of a fair-sized irrigation canal.

The headman of Shinega and its:vicinity — called a beg in Turki, in Chinese a hsiang-yeh — was a good fellow named SEIDVL, who immediately placed himself and his services at our disposal. He understood that we were distinguished people from Europe and China, not savage Tungans, who looted at will and paid for nothing they took. He promised to get us as much flour and rice and as many eggs and sheep as could be found in the oasis; and he carried out his undertaking to our complete satisfaction.

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