35o IN TIBET AND CHINESE TURKESTAN.
maintain the force at its nominal strength ; but his first duty being, of course, to attend to his own interests, he puts half the amount into his own pocket and distributes the remainder for the support of the various liang-tsu. Each unit is thus reduced to half its proper strength, and • a further reduction is effected by each. Li-Darin =who, following the example of his superior, retains for his own use a large share of the amount entrusted to him. The Taotai increases his emoluments by the sale of military appointments, each Li-Darin paying him a large sum either at once or by annual instalments. The pay of the soldiers is small. The cavalry receive each 51 sarrs per month, the infantry 3 sarrs 6 miskals, the standard bearers 4 sarrs 4 miskals, each man receiving also about 60 pounds of flour and 150 jings of wood per month. The men are naturally always short of money and in want of opium. The Li-Darin is willing to lend money at interest and to sell opium on credit at a much higher price than that current in the bazaar. At the quarterly pay-day the debts are all..cleared by the simple method of deducting the amount from the pay which is due.
The foot soldiers are armed with swords and very old muzzle-loading muskets. In each liang-tsu of Infantry there are about fifty men provided only with flags and boards, their duty in time of war being to lead others into action, and in time of peace to escort superior officers. The cavalry soldiers have to provide their own horses, but they are supplied with forage. They are armed with swords and muzzle-loading muskets ; many of them carry also long wooden lances, and not a few bear flags. The cavalry I saw were well mounted on small, strongly-built cobs, which were generally in good condition and appeared to be serviceable animals. This arm of the service would doubtless prove itself mobile in favourable circumstances, but owing to lack of transport
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