Among the Celestials : vol.1 / Page 222 (Color Image)

0222	Among the Celestials : vol.1

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184 AMONG THE CELESTIALS. [CHAP. VII.

had been reached. For the rest of the way I

should be, so to speak, on my return. Kashgar

was well known, too, from the Indian side, and

there was a Russian consul stationed there.

So when I reached the place I appeared to

have arrived again on the fringes of civilisa-

tion.

Passing through the native town, we put up

at an inn on the southern side. I sent my card

and passport to the yamen, and very shortly

afterwards the Afghan Aksakal and a number

of Indian traders came to see me. These

Aksakals are men selected by the Chinese from..

among the traders of each country as their

representatives. They are responsible for re-

porting any new arrivals, and all dealings with

their countrymen are carried on by the Chinese

through them. They correspond to a certain

extent to consuls, and perform some of the

functions of a consul, but they are appointed

and removed at the pleasure of the Chinese.

This Afghan Aksakal, though he was after-

wards suspected of having sheltered the mur-

derer of Mr. Dalgleish (to whom I will refer

presently), and had to leave Kashgar, made

himself most useful, and greatly impressed me.

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