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National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
( 445 )
ROUTE No. XIVa.
YARKAND TO KHOTAN.
AUTHORITY CAPTAIN CHAPMAN (COMPILED FROM NOTES BY RAMCHAND).
FROM YARKAND TO KHOTAN, BY KARGHALIK.
FROM Karghâlik to Egun, two tash, across a ravine and for four miles across desert, and then entering cultivated land which continues for two miles, after which there is desert close up to Egun, beyond Egun desert, at three miles a Langar (Gombaz) with tank and two old tombs; eight miles beyond this through a bare desert to a place where a tank (containing about 20 mussuks of water) is prepared and covered in. Water is brought to this daily (one donkey load) from a distance of ten miles, under the orders of the Hakim of Gûma. Beyond this 10 miles through desert to Chûlâk (Langar), where there is a tank. This is the usual halting stage, and there is a post here for the examination of passports.
From Chûlâk, 13 miles, to Serik Langar through desert. These Langars are all comfortably fitted up for travellers. Four miles beyond this is another Langar, where are trees and water ; at this point the road divides, one going direct to Khotân and the other to the Gnma Bazaar ; six miles to Gûma by taking the direct road, and not going to Gûma about four miles are saved, but all Randaris (passports) have to be shewn to the Hâkim of Gûma.
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Gûma is a considerable place ; its district comprises that of Sânju. It extends from Egun to Piâ.lmâ in the Khotân direction, and southward as far as the Sânju pass. Gûma, for three miles through cultivated ground, then through desert for 12 miles to Mocha. Here is a comfortable rest-house prepared by a Mullah where travellers are entertained. A road diverges at this point to Sânju, which is distant 15 miles.
From Mocha (or Moji) for about 14 miles through desert to Zungoé or Jbanguiâ; here is a small bazaar, and the place is surrounded by a wall built in the time of Habbibnlla ; cultivation beyond this for some two miles, where'there is a Langar, after which there is desert for 12 or 15 miles. Here there is a Langar, but no tank, only a well of extreme depth from which water is drawn. Five miles to Piâlmâ. Here there is a small bazaar. From Piâlmâ 15 miles to Ak-Robât. Here is a new rest-house prepared by the Amir's orders where travellers are entertained ; there are two wells in the court-yard, which is 100 feet square : these wells are deeper than the one at the last Langar. Here there is a very high pole upon which a bell is hung, in order that during storms of sand travellers may be directed to the rest-house ; during the night it is customary to place a light on the top of this pole for the same purpose. There is a regular establishment for the care of the serai. From Ak-Robât five miles to the Mazâr of Imâm Mahomed Shah. This stands in the middle of a desert ; a large number of pigeons are kept by the Shaik custodian, for which a regular allowance of grain is made ; the road is through a heavy sandy desert. There is a high pole at this point with a bell on it similar to the one at AkRobât. Through desert for five miles to Jawa : this is a small village of 20 houses, also surrounded by a wall in the time of Habbibûlla ; there is a post for the inspection of passes and for search for gold and jade carried out of the Khotan District without permission. This is the point where the Atalik halted before the capture of Khotan, and from whence he enticed Habbibnlla ,into his camp. To the east of this village is a considerable stream flowing from the Sânju Diwân, which is crossed by a wooden bridge built after the fashion of Kashmir bridges. This is about 20 yards across. On the other side is a regular rest-house for the Hakim of superior construction. From this point cultivation and habitations extend uninterruptedly to Khotan at a distance of 25 miles.
Ten miles from Jawa the Kârâkâsh is crossed, where the breadth of the bed of the stream is about 400 yards. On the bank of the Kârâkâsh there is also a rest-house built to accommodate travellers detained by the rising of the river.
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