IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
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Corporal Rhind, Her Majesty's 92nd Gordon Highlanders, Camp Sergeant and Clerk. Jemadar Siffat Khan, in charge of escort ftirnished by the Corps of Guides which consisted of-
10 Sowars, 1 Naick, and 10 Sepoys.
Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon as second in command had superior charge of all camp arrangements, and issued the necessary orders for daily routine, the entire control of the escort and ammunition was in his hands. He also commanded sundry separate expeditions.
Dr. Bellew had charge of all medical arrangements and was President of the staff mess.
Captain Chapman was appointed Secretary to the Mission, and had charge of the mule equipment, camp equipage, treasure chest, and postal arrangements.
Captain Biddulph had charge of the Toshakhana when he was with the head-quarters • of the Mission, it being placed under Captain Chapman's care at other times. He commanded the advance party to Shahidulla, and was employed on a separate expedition to Maralbashi, and accompanied Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon to Wakhan.
Captain Trotter and Dr. Stoliczka had charge of their special departments.
Of the native Government employes selected to serve, Ressaidar Mahomed Afzul Khan, 11th Bengal Lancers, was appointed Attaché in charge of the native portion of the camp, Ibrahim Khan, Inspector of Police, was another Attaché, and was employed on special duty.
Abdool Subhan, Assistant Surveyor, attached to the Survey Department, assisted Captain Trotter, and conducted separately an exploration of Shignan, returning by Badakshan and Cabul. ' Colonel Walker, R.E., Superintendent G. T. S., further placed at my disposal seven of the Survey Pundits.
Experience having shown the necessity for rendering the expedition independent in the matter of carriage, one hundred mules of a very fair stamp were purchased, through the agency of Tara Sing, at a moderate price. These were equipped with saddles nearly resembling those of the Otago pattern used in Abyssinia, which were made in the Government workshops at Cawnpoor, mule trunks of a special pattern being supplied with them. The saddles and trunks were productions that would be considered highly creditable to any manufactory, and proved most serviceable.
As some delay occurred in the return of Syud Yakub Khan, the Yarkand Envoy, from Constantinople, it was thought advisable to send an advance party to examine carefully the routes between Leh and Shahidulla. Accordingly on the 15th July 1873, Captains Biddulph and Trotter and Dr. Stoliczka left Murree and journeyed to Shahidulla. The head-quarters party left on 19th July, but halted for some time at Srinuggur till I joined them, when we all proceeded to Leh which we reâched on the 20th September. Here, in addition to what is usually known as warm clothing, each follower received fur socks, leggings, boots, and a chogah lined with sheep-skin, a warm cap covering the ears, and thick gloves, besides a good felt and blankets. Meat and tea formed part of the daily ration, and the whole were comfort-
ably sheltered in tents. ,
The road as far as Leh is too well trodden to require any description here. The route taken by the advance party by the Charghcbemo Valley is sufficiently well detailed in the Geographical chapter, and I need only here remark that the inclemency of the season was such as to prevent anything like an extensive exploration, and in fact its effects were speedily visible on our lamented companion Dr. Stoliczka. However, though the hardships undergone by this advance party deserve passing mention, there is not much loss to geographical science to record, for the route taken by them had been fully examined and reported on, first by that intrepid but unfortunate traveller Mr. Hayward, and afterwards by Dr. Cayley, and by the first expedition to Yarkand in 1870.
Captain Trotter and Dr. Stoliczka rejoined our camp at Aktagh on the 13th October, whilst Captain Biddulph pursued his enquiries down the Karakash River and met us at Shahidulla on the 18th October.
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