EXCAVATIONS PROCEEDING ALONG SOUTH-EAST WALL OF RAWAK STUPA COURT.
CHAPTER XXX
AK-SIPIL AND THE SCULPTURES OF THE RAWAK STUPA
ON the 6th of April I halted in Yurung-kash, where fresh supplies and labourers had to be secured, and many repairs to be effected in our equipment. Increasing heat by day and recurring dust storms warned me that the season was close at hand when work in the desert would become impossible. Instead of taking the rest we all by this time felt much in need of, I hastened to set out for the ancient sites which still remained to be explored in the desert north-east of Khotan. So after discharging Ibrahim Akhun, our worthy Darogha, with a liberal reward in glittering gold roubles for himself and an ample supply of specially desired medicines for his Amban, the caravan was set in march again on the morning of April 7th.
The ruined site known to treasure-seekers as Ak-sipil (" the
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