Among the Celestials : vol.1 / Page 138 (Color Image)

0138	Among the Celestials : vol.1

t io AMONG THE CELESTIALS. [CHAP. V.

the caravan which was about to start. By

doing so I might be detained in one way and

another for some weeks, and as I had the whole

length of Chinese Turkestan to traverse, and

to cross the Himalayas before winter closed in,

I could not afford such a delay. It was for-

tunate for me that at this juncture I had the

aid and experience of Mr. Clarke at my dis-

posal. He was indefatigable in his search for

a man, and eventually found a Chinese native

of Guchen who undertook to hire me out five

camels, to carry 300 lbs. each, for 18o taels

(about £45), and to provide a guide to

accompany my party across thé desert to

H ami. A solemn agreement was then drawn

up, and it was stipulated that, for the above

sum, we were to be landed at Hami in sixty

days.

To consult a Chinese almanac for an

auspicious day on which to start was the

next thing. The guide was very particular

about this, as he said it would never do to start

in a casual way on a journey like this. We

must be most careful about the date of starting.

The 23rd, 24th, and 25th of April were all in

turn rejected, for one reason after another, and

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