the inn was a Su-chou merchant who had seen Colonel Bell at that place. The name of this inn was Wu-hau-pu-la.
Started again at 5.25 p.m. The shingle soon became firmer, and the hills less precipitous and more open. At nine miles from Wu-hau-pu-la we reached the summit of the range. The descent was easier. At sixty li we passed an inn, but continued through the night, emerging from the hills and descending the gravel slope to Kumesha, a hamlet of some twenty houses, and also barracks, in which a detachment of soldiers were stationed. Water obtained from a small spring and stream. Weather cool, and at night almost cold. Near the top of the pass I saw an ibex horn measuring thirty-two inches.
July 22.—Started at 3 p.m., crossing a plain between two parallel ranges of hills, the southern being from one to two miles, and the northern from ten to twelve miles distant. The plain was covered with scrub. At sixteen miles from Kumesha we entered the southern range by a gorge through which ran a stream, now dry. Going heavy. Halted at 9.35 at Yu-fu-kou, an inn and a small custom-house (sixty li).
Weather cool ; wind northerly.
July 23.—Started at 4.3o a.m., ascending the bed • of the stream for two and a half miles, the hills gradually opening out. The road then emerges on to a plain sloping very gradually toward the south, and bounded at a distance of about ten miles by a low range of hills. This plain is crossed in a direction west by south. At fifteen miles a small hut and well are passed. Halted at 2.30 at Ush-ta-le (Chinese pronunciation), Ushak-tae on Russian map, a village situated on the level at the foot of the sloping plain we had been descending. We had been told that this was a big place, but it does not boast more than fifty houses. Bread, however, was to be bought here, and eggs were thirteen for five tael cents (threepence) instead of only five, as at Kumesha. There is a small fortified barrack to the west of the village.
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