Among the Celestials : vol.1 / Page 188 (Color Image)

0188	Among the Celestials : vol.1

152 AMONG THE CELESTIALS. [CHAP. VII.

Three years later, when I was at Kashgar,

I heard that two Russian merchants residing at

Hami had been imprisoned by the Chinese

authorities, and treated in the most terrible

manner. A European in the employ of the

Chinese heard of this, brought it to the notice

of the Russian Minister at Peking, and I

believe their release was obtained, but not

before they had undergone the most fearful

sufferings from hunger and imprisonment in

foul, pest-stricken dungeons. I have often

wondered whether my hearty, good-natured

guest was one of them.

Besides the native town of Hami there is

also a Chinese walled town, about six hundred

yards square, with four gateways, each sur-

mounted by a massive tower ; and I subse-

quently found in travelling through the country

that it is the unvarying custom to have the

open native town and the Chinese walled town

close beside. Every town in Turkestan is

therefore double.

We halted four days at Hami, and made a

new start for Kashgar the second great stage

of the journey—on July 8. It appeared that

carts could be taken the whole way, so the slow

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