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0352 Across Asia : vol.1
Across Asia : vol.1 / Page 352 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000221
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C. G. MANNERHEIM

tapering base. On its surface facing SW two eyebrows are visible and signs of eyes seem to be distinguishable. The nose seems to be marked by two indistinct lines and two hollows that appear to have been made by the wind take the place of the cheeks. The eyebrows are darker than the rest, possibly the result of fine moss

5    '    having settled in the very slight hollows.

The sarai is of stone, but very defective. Grottoes have been made in the wall of earth above it and are also used by caravans. No supplies can be bought here. — A likin station levies toll on travellers here. Fresh and dried fruit (chiefly grapes) and cotton are brought from Turfan to Kucheng; from Kucheng to Turfan opium, gaolyan, tobacco, matches and various odds and ends, Japanese cotton cloth etc. Likin is levied on dried fruit and fresh apples (fresh grapes are on the free list) t tchen 5 per donkey; in large transports 3 donkeys are reckoned as 2; on cotton 2 tchen per too djin; on cotton cloth i tchen I f. per piece; on various small articles 8 tchen per too djin and on opium at present t 1. I t. 6 I /2 f. (formerly t lan) per too djin. There is lively traffic all the year round. When the snow is deep, only horses and mules are used. The road is said to be too narrow for camels.

In general, to-day's road was quite suitable for pack-horses, though it would be exhausting for heavily laden ones. A little blasting and digging would improve it appreciably. The S gorge in particular is difficult owing to its exceedingly stony and rocky ground. It would not be impossible to prepare the road for wheeled traffic, but it would require very extensive blasting.

We met a great many caravans with fresh fruit and the little courtyard of the sarai was full of sleeping people. — Ibexes are said to be plentiful in the mountains here, though there are no horns of wild sheep to be seen.

We left Shiuza early this morning, having been thoroughly cold during the night, every one of us. The river valley, fully 150 fathoms wide, goes in a SE direction for a mile and a half. Here a mighty gorge opens up on the left, from which the river Shiuza sui obtains water. Along the gorge, which is called Tung go, a road is supposed to lead to Sung shu go over a difficult pass. This road is said to debouch into the Sa dawan gorge near bridge No.3 or near the Njenza river gorge and is only used by horse-thieves and others who prefer to avoid the highroad.

Here the Shiuza gorge makes a turn almost at right angles and goes on in a southerly direction for over 8 miles. The mountains are now perceptibly lower. They confine the stony river bed in two irregular lines, either approaching each other with slightly projecting points or retreating in large curves. The river bed, or rather the valley, for there are slopes with bushes and a little grass slightly inclined towards the river on either side, varies in breadth from t /3 to 2/3 of a mile. The bed itself is still quite as stony, but the ground on both sides is considerably less rough and in some places there are quite reasonable stretches. Several appreciable gorges are visible in the mountains — one on the left especially is large. It is called Tagan go (the large, dry gorge) and has a stony bed, quite I of of a mile wide,

,N

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September 21st. Pai yang-ho or Yoghan Terek station.