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

Sec. vii]   CONCLUSION OF WORK AT TURFAN   711

he believed to be a peak fixed by intersection in the course of the previous year's work south of the Lop basin. He subsequently carried his surveys into wholly unexplored portions of the Kuruktâgh far away to the north-east, over ground devoid even of the scantiest vegetation. At last, when the fuel for melting the ice upon which he and his little party depended for their water was completely exhausted, he was obliged to turn back, in order to regain the Turfân basin at its southeastern extremity, as I had planned. Thence, before rejoining me at Kara-khaja, he carefully surveyed the deepest portion of the basin along its terminal salt marsh and determined its depression below sea-level, with greater accuracy than had been previously done, as close on i,000 feet.

Lâl Singh allowed himself only a few days' rest after these exhausting travels ; with indefatig- Planned

able zeal he then set out afresh for the extension of the triangulation work from Singer towards n Sys

the foot of the Tien-shan near Korla. It was a task that I was anxious to see carried out by him Desert

before the arrival of the season of dust-storms in the spring. Arrangements for Lai Singh's prompt start with fresh supplies, instructions, &c., had therefore to be made simultaneously with the equally urgent preparations for the expedition by which I wished, both for geographical and archaeological reasons, to supplement our surveys of the previous winter in the Lop desert. These surveys were possible only while the winter cold made work possible in that wholly waterless area. It was with deep regret that I had to forgo the chance of carrying out those explorations myself ; but my injured leg, though its condition was improved, would not have been equal to the fatigue of long tramps over such difficult country. I was fortunately able to entrust these further surveys with some confidence to Afraz-gul ; for the experience of the preceding eighteen months' explorations had shown him to be possessed not merely of pluck, zeal, and topographical skill, but also of an intelligent comprehension of their antiquarian purpose. In view, however, of the physical difficulties and risks involved, specially careful arrangements and instructions were needed to ensure that my plans should be executed without danger to the young surveyor and his small party. How successfully he discharged his trying duties will be subsequently related.

While proceeding with the explorations at Astâna and with the preparations for the Surveyors' Preoccupa-

expeditions, I was also much occupied with the completion of our work in the Turfân basin and dispat h of

with the safe dispatch of my collection of antiques, now greatly increased in bulk, to Kâshgar. antiques.

Anxious as I was personally to assure its security, it was impossible to drag about with me these loads, which, when all the wall-paintings from Bezeklik had been removed and packed, amounted to 145 cases weighing over eight tons ; for before rejoining the high road along the foot of the Tien-shan at Korla, I contemplated crossing the Kuruk-tâgh to certain ancient remains by the Kuruk-daryâ and proceeding thence along the continuation of the ancient Lou-lan route to the north-west. Independent arrangements had therefore to be made for the dispatch of the antiques to the safe shelter of the Consulate General at Kashgar, and in the first days of February I observed signs calculated to make me hasten these arrangements, as well as the conclusion of my excavations at Astâna.

Communications from the well-meaning District Magistrate of Turf-6,n, politely conveyed Apprehen-

yet unmistakable in their disquieting import, indicated that official inquiries had been made from ;ntended

head-quarters at Urumchi as to the reasons for my prolonged stay in the district, the character of obstruction.

my work, &c. They emanated from the same agile Secretary for Foreign Affairs to the Provincial Government who had been principally concerned in the attempt at obstruction which in the preceding year had so nearly frustrated my plans. There was reason to fear that our prolonged explorations near Murtuk and Astâna, in the immediate vicinity of oases, and still more the many cases which their proceeds had added to my baggage (together with appropriate rumours as to their precious contents), would furnish that keen representative of `Young China' and champion

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