II4 IN TIBET AND CHINESE TURKESTAN.
avoid mistakes. The work, however, was completed, heliographic signals from stations in the valley were observed, and replies were sent, the theodolite was packed up, the yaks loaded, and a large pillar was erected to mark the spot for observation from the lower stations ; then we gladly returned to the camp in the valley.
The result, I may add, was very satisfactory, but it was accomplished at the cost of frostbitten fingers. The hill station was at an altitude of about 16,880 feet.
It was evident that the Kirghiz and Tajiks of Oprang, Ujadbai, and its vicinity were most unwilling that I should travel to that part of the valley of the Yarkand River known as Raskam, their allegation being that the roads had been rendered impassable by earthquakes a few years before, and that no one ever used them now. After a short time, a Tajik was found who undertook to accompany Changfûnchuk, one of my men, whom I detailed to inspect the route as far as the Yarkand River and return to Mazar Sultan with his report. While this investigation was being carried out, I set about the removal of my camp to Oprang, at the junction of the river and the valley which descends from the Oprang Pass. Cobbold had gone to that neighbourhood in quest of shikar, but, in his directions for my guidance, he had underestimated the distance from Mazar Sultan. In the forenoon I despatched the few men and baggage animals required at the new camp, but, with Dalbir Rai, remained behind till nearly four o'clock to complete the triangulation. The man in charge of the pony carrying the theodolite, preferred to go back to a ford which he knew near Mazar Sultan, rather than trust to the discovery of one higher up the stream, while Dalbir and I were taken by a guide along a more direct route. At the ford the river had been partially dammed by ice which was not strong enough to bear the weight of a mounted man.
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