i 40 IN TIBET AND CHINESE T URKES TA N
compelled to abandon the attempt to cross the difficult Khandar Pass, but on the whole it proved fortunate. In consequence of the open-air dinner on the Chinese new year's day I was in an unsatisfactory condition, and was forced to restrict my diet to milk or soup, the former being sometimes beyond my power of retention. Weak as I was, Dalbir Rai was much more helpless, suffering from .rheumatism and fever, so that, even if we - had reached the west side of Khandar Pass, neither of us would have been physically capable of survey work.
The ice was now melting fast, and when, on February 19th, we returned to Langar, the river was almost clear. The water was so deep that camels had to be employed to carry the baggage across, while the ponies swam. This retrograde movement was disappointing to me, and must have been more so to the Oan Bashi (Head of Ten Men) at Tung Langar. This petty official had procured supplies for me and had been duly paid before I left the village, but had not disbursed the money to those who had actually provided the various articles. News of his delinquencies reached me on my return, when I considered it right and proper, in my own interest and in that of the defrauded villagers, to see justice done. The Oan Bashi, on being arrested, admitted the charge against him, and there was no difficulty in snaking him disgorge. But restitution was not enough, and, as the Beg of Sarikol, the only magistrate who was capable of dealing with the case, was then at Tashkurghan, some method of having the matter at once disposed of had to be devised. In the East, speedy justice, even though rough, is more effective than long-delayed retribution, and I determined for once to take the administration of the law into my hands. I inquired of several villagers if they were aware of the prisoner's guilt, and knew what punishment he would receive from the Chow-Kuan at Yarkand if the
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