long boots, and high-heeled leather slippers, presented a great contrast to my patched old puttoo suit and putties, fur cap, and rubber-soled canvas boots. We walked on together and found it necessary several times to cross and recross the Teriart River a little below the point where it is joined by the Tekesekerek. My pony was at some distance, and, as the stream was shallow, we easily waded across, the water which was splashed over my putties freezing into an admirable waterproofing. At some of the fords there were stepping-stones, treacherous with a transparent film of ice. These I avoided, but Mohammed Ramzan, with less experience, trying once to use them, slipped and fell into water deep enough to soak his fine garments. The incident was less amusing to him than it was to me, but no serious harm resulted, and, on reaching the village of Kosarab, he put on dry clothing, while I, standing in front of a big fire, removed the waterproofing from my putties.
The extent of the village of Kosarab surprised me in view of the poverty of its surroundings. The whole neighbourhood being very bare, with few signs of cultivation, such prosperity as the locality enjoys is probably due to the gold washings carried on in summer on the banks of the river. In the neighbouring mountains coal, copper, and iron are found, but the natives have little energy or enterprise, and the minerals remain unworked. As to the amount - of gold annually obtained on this stretch of the river, I had no time to make inquiry ; but undoubtedly gold is found in some small quantity, and is dealt in at the village at the rate of 26* of silver to 1 of gold. A more important question is that which relates to the region whence the gold is borne down by the stream. This problem awaits solution by other travellers.
From Kosarab, Mohammed Ramzan set out for Yarkand, and I sent Islam direct to Kashgar to inform
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