92 ON MUZTAGH-ATA CHAP. vi.
work, and while he was making up for the delay I could effect my excursion without having to accuse myself of any waste of time. I had soon separated the outfit most needed for this tour from the rest of my baggage. The ten yaks that were to move it and to serve as mounts were also soon procured from among Karin Shah Beg's herd that was grazing near the lake. All surplus stores and baggage not needed were to be left behind in charge of Mirza, my Turki servant from Peshawar, who, not equal to the fatigues of the long journey, seemed manifestly in need of rest. With him I also decided to leave ` Yolchi Beg,' who was to be spared unnecessary climbs in ice and snow. He had so far borne the long marches wonderfully well, and had lost none of his vivacity and high spirits.
It was midday by the time I moved off, accompanied by Sadak Akhun, my Kashgar servant, and the three followers from Hunza and Punyal, who were now to have a chance of showing what they were worth on the mountain-side. The air was delightfully still and warm, and as we rode along the rich grazing land at the bottom of the valley, the fragrance of the flowers and herbs was most perceptible. Passing the Subashi post, which now in full sunshine looked far more dilapidated than when it first offered me its shelter, we turned round the foot of the great spur of Shamalda into the valley leading towards the Yambulak Glacier. The latter descends in a westerly direction from the col connecting the two main peaks of Murtagh-Ata, and is flanked by mighty ridges both to the north and south. From Dr. Sven Hedin's experience, fully detailed in his fascinating volumes, it was clear that the only part of the great mountain from which access might be gained to its higher slopes, if not to one of its summits, was the spur rising above the north edge of the Yambulak Glacier. From a height near the head of the valley, where the fine view reproduced at the head of this chapter lay before me, I surveyed through my small telescope this great ridge as it
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