work for the benefit of members of my own company, I suddenly found my medical skill in demand. Among the caravan men was one Sonam Sang, who, having been 'shown his photograph when in Srinagar, covered his face with his hands and uttered a groan of horror at his own ugliness. This man now suffered from a large and deep-seated abscess which required to be opened. Having a good supply of chloroform, I put the patient under its influence. and successfully opened the abscess. Anesthetics had never before been heard of in that part of the world, and great was the surprise of the onlookers. The patient himself, on regaining consciousness, required the repeated assurances of his compatriots to persuade him that the knife had actually been used.
A few days later, a wealthy landowner applied to me for surgical assistance of a more difficult sort. He had been carried two marches to see me, but as I had not the proper instruments, I was doubtful of my ability to benefit him, and declined to operate. But the poor man looked so disappointed and so firmly refused to go till something had been done, that I was induced to assent. Notwithstanding my fears, the operation proved successful, and, not long afterwards, I was told that the patient, who for six years had been unable to sit on horseback, had resumed his habit of riding.
Khotan and its neighbourhood, though possessed of no large manufacturing establishments, have important cottage industries. These comprise carpet-weaving, silk-weaving, the making of felt rugs, and the cutting and polishing of jade. For jade, the town is a well-known market, and I was desirous of purchasing some good specimens. Jade of the best quality is very rare and can be obtained only in small pieces, such as are suitable for -
-
rings. I went round the dealers and workers, and none of them would even think of accepting a commission from
IIIFカラー高解像度
