Among the Celestials : vol.1 / Page 246 (Color Image)

0246	Among the Celestials : vol.1

204 AMONG THE CELESTIALS. [CHAP. VIII.

Leaving this valley, I crossed the Chiragh-

saldi Pass, over the main ridge of the Kuen-lun

Mountains. The only aneroid I had was un-

fortunately not made to register up to such

heights as the pass, but I computed its height

at about sixteen thousand feet. We were now

getting into the heart of our work, and as I

looked out from the summit of that pass on to

the labyrinth of pathless mountains, rising into

tier after tier of snowy peaks, I felt that there

was some real stern work before us, and that

each one of our little party would have to brace

himself up to do his very best if we wished to

accomplish the task that had been set us.

There were now no paths and no inhabitants.

We were alone among the mountains, and it

was not only the difficulties which they might

present that we had to contend against ; we

also had to be ever-watchful against an attack

from the Kanjuti robbers, who had for many

years infested these parts, issuing from their

strongholds in Hunza, raiding on caravans

trading between Yarkand and Leh by the

Karakoram route, and even levying blackmail

from villages in the Kugiar district. Three of

the men I had with me had actually been cap-

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