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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
( 16 )
Our relations with our good friends the Kashgharians were of the pleasantest nature, unmoved by a single contretemps, and it is with pleasure and pride I record the fact that no single instance of altercation occurred between any of our followers and the people of the country. The system which I had enforced from the outset, of having the roll called twice a day, and of not allowing any of our followers to leave the precincts of the embassy quarters without permission, had an admirable effect in checking misconduct, and inspired confidence in the Amir's officials that no abuse of their kind hospitality would be allowed.
A remarkable proof of their confidence was afforded in the popularity of the dispensary which Dr. Bellew established in one of the courts of our embassy. As we travelled along from Sanju to Yarkand, Syud Yaktib Khan shrewdly observed that the skill of an English physician would do as much as anything else to cause the people to look favorably on our mission, and as we rode past the villages on our route, he would enquire what sick there were, and brought them out for Dr. Bellew's inspection. This was somewhat a trial for medical skill, for in the majority of cases, the patients suffered from diseases inseparable from old age, and the gift of renovating youth is denied to human skill. But in the treatment of eye diseases and in performing sundry surgical operations at Yarkand, Dr. Bellew was happily successful so that his fame preceded him to Kashghar, and when we had erected two spacious Kirghiz tents in the embassy quarters, patients of both sexes flocked daily for treatment. Dr. Bellew's account of his work in this department will be read with great interest.
Syud Yaktib Khan, whose enlightenment and freedom from all prejudice, facilitated greatly all our proceedings, and augurs well for the advancement of this interesting country, was particularly desirous to avail himself of the scientific knowledge of our lamented friend Dr. Stoliczka, though I regret to say that untoward circumstances prevented our geologist from having full scope for the prosecution of his pursuits. And I lament that his hand no longer remains to record the result of such enquiries as he was enabled to make. From some notes however, which he gave at my request to the Amir, I am able to give the following analysis of coal and metals, &c., which were brought for his inspection.
Copper ore brought from the Alai range.
This proved to be sulphuret of copper and iron, generally known as copper pyrites. It contains—
Copper 30%
Iron 35%
Sulphur 35%
It is a good copper ore, being brittle, and yielding easily to the hammer. The impurities of the ore are small, silica, alumina, mica and magnetic iron. These may be calculated at 20 per cent. So that out of 100 lbs. of rock, 80 lbs. of pyrites ought to be got, and from this again 23 lbs. of pure copper.
Coal from the range west of Kashghar. This contains
. 137
Volatile matter including water... 40°2 Total combustible
Fixed carbon ...
matter 877
... 47%
This is good coal, exceeding the average of Indian coal by having a comparatively
moderate proportion of ash. This is a fine pale reddish powder the color being caused by a
small quantity of iron oxide. The coal is deep shining black with a splintery fracture. The
large quantity of volatile matter would make it a fair coal for obtaining gas, but it is very
slightly caking.
Coal from Turfan : Ash 20% Volatile matter, i.e., water
Fixed carbon ...
Ash
... 39% Combustible matter ... 41%5 80 per cent.
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