IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| History of the Expedition in Asia, 1927-1935 : vol.3 |
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Citation Information
ILLNESS
On October 2nd I was taken ill. Dr SAPOJNIKOV was summoned, and looked serious. Next day he gave YEW instructions about my treatment, and advised the greatest care.
»Is it typhoid? » I asked.
After a moment's reflection the doctor replied:
»Well, since you ask me, I'm bound to say it's as likely to be typhoid as anything else. If your temperature keeps up you must be moved to our hospital. »
On October 5th I was moved to the hospital, well wrapped up. Everything was conspiring against us. We were to have started on October Ist, and now? I wrote a long telegram to prepare my sisters, in case the last great departure was at hand. Mr APRESOV, who came to see me several times, took charge of this telegram. When I was out of danger he confessed to me that he had not sent it off, as he did not think those at home ought to be frightened before it was necessary. I blessed him for his high-handedness. My temperature rose to 39.8° (103.6). Luckily we had all been inoculated by HUEL at Korla.
I was not long in hospital. Dr SAPOJNIKOV looked after me splendidly, and I could not thank him warmly enough for what he did. There were thirty beds, and ten Russian and Tartar nurses. They lavished the tenderest care on me, and shortened the long hours by telling me their life-stories.
Rumours were still buzzing, meantime. It was even said that my illness was feigned, and that I was using it as a pretext to await the arrival of some strong man from the coast. Another rumour said that MA PU-FANG in Ch'ing-hai, in alliance with YOLBARS at Hami, was going to conquer the whole Turfan basin. It was also alleged that hostilities had broken out between Chinese and Tungans in the region east of Anhsi, just where we were going to travel along the Silk Road.
The days passed slowly; winter was coming on. On the night of October loth the temperature was —3.2° C., and on the night of the 12th —7°. On this day, however, my own temperature was back to normal, and I was allowed to leave hospital.
READY TO LEAVE
The last few days were devoted to farewell visits. SHENG TUPAN owed us 2,500 silver dollars; and after months of waiting we got this sum in gold billots from the Altai, with a special certificate that we had permission to take it out of the country. It was dangerous luggage to have with us in the regions we were to pass through.
CH'EN TEH-LI informed us that two buses were leaving on the 21st, and that SHENG TUPAN wished us to set out at the same time so that the same escort could
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